Emma Allen is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Tempe for AZPreps365.com

TEMPE, Ariz. — While referees discussed a call during Wednesday’s match against Marcos de Niza, the Tempe High Buffaloes and Padres sat in a circle on the court and started playing duck, duck, goose. 

Tempe lost 3-0 to the Padres, the No. 1 team in the 4A Black Canyon region, dropping to 3-10. The scoreboard hasn’t always been in Tempe’s favor this season, but the Buffaloes still celebrated each point together, even when they were behind.

The team has struggled this season with passing, communication and making adjustments during games, and those problems have shown up most against the region’s top two teams, Marcos de Niza and Dysart. Fall break gave the Buffaloes two weeks to work on them.

After Tempe lost to Dysart in three straight sets on Sept. 28, the coaches knew the team had work to do. Assistant and junior varsity coach Kelly McClory said the players struggled to pass against strong serving, while head coach Morgan Sells wanted to see better blocking, defense and quicker adjustments.

The break came at a good moment for the Buffaloes. The stretch between matches gave them a chance to regroup, work on their weaknesses and prepare for Marcos de Niza, which had not lost a region match all season. 

The work appeared to make a difference.After losing the first set 25-13,Tempe came back stronger in the second.The Buffaloes blocked better, kept the score close and made Marcos de Niza work harder for its points. Tempe lost the set 25-22, but its 22 points were more than it scored in any set against Dysart. 

Tempe’s second-set push didn’t carry into the third. Marcos de Niza controlled the set from the start and finished off the 3-0 sweep. 

Afterward, McClory said the team worked on receiving serves over the break.

“We made sure that was a focus during practice, and we did a lot of serve receive drills,” she said. “We talked a little bit more about grit and having a different focus other than the fact that you just made a mistake.”

There is still room for improvement, especially at the net.

“They’re blocking, but their timing is a little bit off, so the balls are going over the block,” she said. 

Off the court, the support for the Buffaloes was easy to see in their first home match since Sept. 22. Parents stomped their feet in the bleachers as Marcos de Niza prepared to serve, and cheerleaders led chants for Tempe during timeouts. The match was also a pink out for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Tempe High fan Kamila Rodriguez was among those cheering from the stands.

“I just wanted to be here, just to support them,” Rodriguez said.

The Buffaloes will face Marcos de Niza again Oct. 28 in their final regular-season match. Until then, they have more chances to improve their passing, blocking and communication. 

For Tempe, winning is still the goal. But this season is also about learning from mistakes, improving as a team and finding ways to have fun, even on nights that end in a loss.