Briana Carrillo is an ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arizona Lutheran Academy for AZPreps365.com 

The Arizona Lutheran Academy Coyotes girls varsity volleyball team swept the Horizon Honors Eagles in a 3-0 shutout.

The Coyotes continued their winning streak at home in Phoenix on Oct. 22, 2025, against the Eagles, bringing them one step closer to the state championship. This matchup brought high energy to the courts with a student-packed section. But the Coyotes' skills and energy proved to be the difference.

Before the game started, the gym was filled with noise from the crowd cheering on the Coyotes because it wasn’t just any game; it was Senior Night.

“This is our last home match,” said Pastor Brad Bode, coach of the Coyotes varsity volleyball team. “We’re going to play like seniors as far as the experience,” Bode said before the game. And they did, Bode said after the game.

The game began, and both teams fought to keep the ball alive. The ball had gone back and forth between the Eagles and Coyotes for about two minutes. The Coyotes student section even started to chant “A-L-A!”

Each team had its moments where the ball would roll off the tip of their fingers and hit the ground. The Coyotes would take the lead, scoring until they were 20-16, and the Eagles would start to catch up, but that wasn’t enough. The Coyotes were the first to reach 25, and the set score was 25-22.

“They’re queen of five-set matches,” Bode said when talking about the Eagles and their previous stats. 

The players and coach both said that the game wasn’t going to be easy and knew hard work was needed for them to get this win, but they didn’t let that stop them. 

“We came out with a ton of energy,” said Kailey Peter, a senior on the Coyotes volleyball team. While reflecting on the shutout.

With set one complete, the Eagles and Coyotes were ready for the second set. The Coyotes started with their ball but lost it quickly to the Eagles. The Eagles and Coyotes kept going back and forth, keeping the game neck and neck to the point where they were tied 24-24. The Coyotes scored that last point to secure their win of the second set.

The success came from the skills the Coyotes have been building all season, Peter said.

“I think our communication really clicked, and even though there were some rough spots in, like, our irritations and everything, we were able to, I don't know, get some good passes and hits,” Peter said.

The confidence from those wins was built up not only by the team but also by the Coyotes student section, who brought out brooms to sweep the floor in celebration. The student section kept on cheering, growing louder and more excited until the referee had to step in because students were starting to come onto the court.

The Coyotes dominated the third, getting control of the ball from the start and keeping it alive, and ended with a score of 25-15, which helped them not only win the third set but also get a dominant victory despite some rough patches. 

This wasn't meant to be an easy game, said senior Ava Ohm, a senior on the Arizona Lutheran Academy volleyball team.

“We will put a lot of work into it, and I think our coaches, as well, have helped prepare us for that for these past four years,” Ohm said.