William Riddell is a student journalist at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University assigned to cover North High School volleyball.

The North High School Lady Mustangs (4-2) are looking to bounce back Monday night against Maryvale (1-4) after a rough outing this weekend that included back-to-back losses.

North lost both games to Youngker (15-2) in straight sets. Heading into the weekend, the Lady Mustangs had yet to lose a game all season and were off to a perfect 4-0 start. The undefeated season was no more after the first 2-0 loss Friday morning.

The Lady Mustangs had a chance to return the favor Saturday afternoon, but again fell to the Roughriders in a 2-0 loss.

The team is now preparing for a Monday night matchup against Maryvale. The Maryvale Panthers will be desperate for a win, as they come into Monday night’s game trying to snap a four-game skid.

North head coach Mindy Williams clearly wants her team to play to its strengths on Monday, and to not get caught up in Maryvale’s style of play.

“We’re going to have to make sure that we are controlling the tempo of the game,” Williams said Wednesday. “They tend to run a slow offense.” 

The Lady Mustangs and Panthers clashed twice in 2018, with the Lady Mustangs taking both matches. Monday’s game will be at Maryvale, something North did not have to worry about last season. Both games against the Panthers in 2018 were on the Lady Mustangs’ home court.

Senior setter Ashley Arroyo, who leads the team in assists, understands the importance of playing together in order to get wins on the road.

“We know how to stay together and support each other,” Arroyo said.

The coaching staff echoed that. 

“When we’re clicking on all cylinders nobody can touch us,” assistant coach John Lumm said during a team practice on Wednesday.

Playing and communicating as one collective group has been the theme as of late for North.

“Effort and communication is definitely something they can control,” Williams said.

Leading the Lady Mustangs into Monday’s game will be senior Yessenia Rogelio and junior Lizbeth Juarez. The two upperclassmen are responsible for more than half of the team’s kills so far this year. Both Rogelio and Juarez played well in North’s 3-1 win over South Mountain last Tuesday, tallying eight and 14 kills respectively.

Arroyo finished with a big night in the last non-tournament game as well, tallying  25 assists and five aces. The senior hopes to continue to set up her teammates Monday on the road.

Maryvale is coming into Monday’s game having lost four in a row. After getting a win against Carl Hayden Community to start the season, the Panthers have yet to win a game since. They will have a chance to get back in the win column against North not only because of the home court advantage, but because the Panthers could feel a little more energized as well. Maryvale has not played in a match since last Thursday. North was at a tournament Friday and Saturday.

Monday’s game between the Panthers and Lady Mustangs is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m.