Rachel Masson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365.com

Camelback won its third game in a row against Alhambra on Wednesday night, sweeping the Lions in three sets.

The Spartans were led by senior outside hitter Madison Amarillas’ eight kills and four aces.

The Spartans previously faced the Lions once this season, defeating them in four sets. On Wednesday, the Spartans won 25-16, 25-13, 25-16.

The Spartans started the first set on a 4-0 run until they had a few hitting and serving errors that put the Lions on the board. Both teams exchanged a few points until the Spartans went on a 6-0 run due to some hitting errors by the Lions as well as one kill each from Amarillas and senior outside hitter Leah Luevanos.

The Lions went on a 4-0 run late in the first set, but were unable to match the number of kills from the Spartans. The Lions had issues with setting the ball up for kills as well as hitting errors.

“My setters are very young,” Alhambra coach Arsenio Manuel said. “They’re still developing and I always give it up to them because they’re learning on the court and adjusting and being flexible every single time that they step on that court.”

Luevanos had four kills as the Spartans took the first set, 25-16. 

The Lions came into the second set with more energy as they went on a 3-0 run early in the set, leading the Spartans, 6-3. Kasandra Padilla had two kills early in the second to help push her team.

However, the Spartans went on a 4-0 run and were able to catch up and regain the lead. After an ace from senior libero Yarinet Garcia the Lions called a timeout.

After the timeout, the Spartans went on a 5-0 run, which included three kills from Amarillas. The Spartans kept gaining points from hitting errors committed by the Lions.

The Spartans took the second set 25-13 after a set-winning kill from senior middle blocker Paris Anderson.

The third set was much like the second as both teams went back and forth exchanging points. The Lions lead the Spartans 9-7 early in the third, but the Spartans went on an 8-0 run resulting in a timeout by the Lions.

Coming out of the timeout, the Lions went on a 3-0 run but gave up a couple of points due to more hitting errors.

The Spartans went on another 5-0 run, leading the Lions 20-12. The Lions were able to gain a few more points off of hitting errors by the Spartans.

However, the Spartans ended the third set on a 4-0 run that included two back-to-back aces from Amarillas, and Luevanos’ set-winning kill. Amarillas’ three kills and two aces in the third helped the Spartans close out the set 25-16.

“I feel really good about the way I played,” Amarillas said. “I want to improve on my serves a little bit because I did miss a few. Overall, I really do think I played well, but as a team we just pulled through and were very good at communicating on the court.”

Despite the Spartans now being on a three-game win streak, Camelback coach Calinanne Johnson still wants to see improvement from the players’ serves as the team had a few serving errors during the game.

“I always tell the girls that your mentality is that you’re coming to get an ace every time,” Johnson said. “I don’t necessarily get mad if it’s out or in the net. As long as they put their full power into it, that’s what I care about.”

Camelback (5-7, 5-7) will host Trevor G. Browne on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. Alhambra (2-10, 2-11) will next play in the Goldwater Volleyball Festival hosted by Barry Goldwater High School on Oct. 13-14.