Reflecting on the season so far, Gilbert Classical Academy girls volleyball will continue to push as the underdogs to try to make it to the Class 2A championship.

This season has had a lot of ups and downs so far for GCA (8-9, 3-5), but Coach Kiana Hiapo and the Spartans said they are not giving up quite yet as they head into the end of their season.

“We have plenty to work on,” Hiapo said. “We have a tiny window of opportunity to make states by beating all the teams who beat us.”

The two games left on the regular-season schedule meet that description as Chandler Prep and Tempe Prep swept Gilbert Classical earlier. Both matches are at 5 p.m. at home – Chandler Prep on Tuesday and Tempe Prep on Thursday.

She said the challenge of being behind will only push her and her team to be better and believes they still can make the state championship.

“My coaching style is you love the challenge, you go for the challenge and don’t shy away from it,” Hiapo said.

Family is the fabric of volleyball according to GCA, and they hope to keep the value of family throughout the rest of the season.

Competing and being with teammates and supporting each other through it all is crucial to the Spartans and junior Jordann Delozier.

“Even if we make mistakes, it’s all about just being there for each other no matter what,” Delozier said.

Monet Bouchard said she feels a special closeness with her team when they all struggle together and then become greater from it.

“I see them put it in games and get better and it’s so cool to watch,” Bouchard said.

The underdogs may be down, but they still hope and will work hard to get to where they want to be which is the state finals.

“We will see if the underdogs can come in clutch this year!” Hiapo said.