(Michael Lancia is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365)

The Camelback girls volleyball team lost back-to-back sets against Scottsdale Prep in the first of three matches in the Phoenix Country Day Invitational tournament Saturday.

Blame it on lack of communication.

“I think we are going to try to communicate more, and work together as a team and not get down on anybody,” said senior Julia Avilies. “We need to focus more on keeping momentum.”

Said senior Jasmine Duran:“We will communicate more and come together as a team. Even though we made some mistakes, we tried to come back and get a side out.”

With only seven players eligible to play, Camelback struggled to get any sizable rallies going throughout the match.

“We try to work together more, and if we can’t the hardest part is we don’t have anyone to sub so we have to bring it out on the court,” said Duran.

Camelback failed to keep up with the plethora of rotations coming off of the Scottsdale Prep bench with fresh energy. Scottsdale Prep took advantage of the shortage of Camelback players, putting together rallies with seven unanswered points in the 25-13, 25-12 sweep.

“We have to realize there is no one else you can depend on, you have to depend on yourself, and if you make a mistake you just have to be harder on yourself because there is nobody else,” said Avilies. “We just have to come together as a team and lift each other up.”

Handling serves and passing were other aspects the Spartans hope to improve on before their next match. In the first set Camelback had difficulties returning the serves of Scottsdale Prep, which resulted in getting aced three times in a row.

Coach Todd Goertzen values passing as an important part of the game. “You can’t do anything unless you can pass.”

Despite the loss, the Spartans remain focused.

“We need to concentrate on what we need to do better on and watch the team we are going to play,” said Duran. “I feel like we have to hustle more and come together more as a team.”

Although winless, the team remains optimistic.

“To stay positive, you need to find little bits and pieces to keep them going and everything else, just to see that we are actually here on Saturday getting better is a positive takeaway,” said Goertzen.