Kevin Redfern is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Heights for AZPreps365.com.

Senior night is more than a last “hoorah” for graduating seniors, it also is an opportunity for athletes to reflect on how high school sports shaped their lives.

The senior volleyball players of Desert Heights Preparatory Academy (3-2) are no different, and they used their senior night platform to thank friends and family before taking the court Thursday night in their 3-1 loss against the Scottsdale Prep Spartans (5-0).

Desert Heights recognized four seniors: setter Mady Robertson, mid-hitter Kayla Johnson, attacker Brooke Owens and student-manager Noah Kennedy.

"The fact that I’m here and able to play on my senior night means the world to me,” Owens wrote in a letter read to the gymnasium.

Said Robertson: “I was excited, I was nervous, I didn’t know what was going to happen."

It was a battle from the first serve, with both teams trading points to start the first set. The Coyotes held their ground defensively, while the Spartans emphasized big swings and attacks.

Juniors Elle Saunders and Emma Elliot were a brick wall for the Coyotes, digging up what seemed like every attack. Owens had a block and a kill as well.

The turning point of the first set came on a kill from outside hitter Saunders after about a minute of volleying to put the Coyotes up 24-23. They took the next point on a Spartan error and won the first match.

Scottsdale Prep started fast to begin the second frame, scoring six of the first seven points. The Spartans never trailed in this set, taking it 25-11.

Desert Heights could not slow the Spartans’ momentum in the third set, as Scottsdale Prep bolted to a 6-1 lead. The Coyotes came to life, thanks to a couple of kills from junior Kiera Alfred, but they could not string together enough points for a comeback. They dropped the set 23-15.

During the third intermission, coach Courtney Martin sparked energy from the Desert Heights huddle, energy the Coyotes did not have most of the night.

“I told them to just play volleyball,” Martin said. “If (we) would just recognize (we) are just as good as every other team, (we) will shine.”

Johnson sparked the rally for Desert Heights with a couple of quick kills to go up early. Shortly after, senior Serena Guzzo electrified the gym and gave the Coyotes life with a pair of kills and multiple blocks at the net.

Another back-and-forth battle ensued, but the Coyotes could not keep up with the rhythm and pace of Scottsdale Prep hitter Hannah Kammer as the Spartans took the last set 25-19.

“Hannah’s always there when you need her to be, so are all the other seniors,” Scottsdale Prep coach Dan Chen said. “They’re rock-steady and that’s why we count on them.”

Desert Heights faces off against Leading Edge Academy at 6 p.m. Monday in Glendale.