Moira Ann Boyes is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Vista High School

A great struggle of high school sports is bringing together students from different walks of life and building a bond between them, but the girls on Desert Vista’s volleyball team have found a once-in-a-lifetime connection this season.

Every game and every practice, the distinct sound of laughter and passionate encouragement is hard to miss. From just looking at the team, it appears as if the athletes are friends who have been playing together for years, but the reality is that this is a young, new team. Of the 14 girls on the varsity roster, six are underclassmen, and one of the team's only two seniors is a transfer student playing her first season with them.

Despite being a fresh team, the Thunder’s superpower this season has been the connections the players have made with one another. This season hasn’t gone the way they had hoped with a 4-11 conference record, but even when times have gotten tough, playing for each other has been what pushed the team forward.

“I'm still looking forward to all the girls. I love all the girls. I just want to keep playing with this team because it's fun, and I love everyone,” libero Kalli Lipo said following a tough loss to region rival Corona del Sol earlier this season.

Coach Audra Schnittger has played a major role in building the foundation for the bond this team has built this season. She’s held many team activities, such as a pre-season bootcamp that allowed the girls time to get to know each other and play together without the expectations of a game. She also brought in Ava Williamson, an Arizona State Beach volleyball player, to speak to the girls and help them improve their game.

Whether they are arranged by coach or not, moments that the team gets to spend together have been bright spots this season.

“I love all of our team-bonding events that we've done, they have been so much fun. And before every single game, we always get hype in the locker room, and it's the best part of my day,” middle blocker Maryella Owens said.

For many of the girls, this is the first time they’ve been on a team that has developed this close a bond.

High school can be a difficult time for many young people due to the drama and personal issues that inhibit relationships, but this team has been completely drama-free.

“I love this team so much. It's the first team I've ever been on, club or school volleyball, where there's absolutely no drama. Everyone loves each other. It's just such a great environment,” Owens said.

“Everyone's been super welcoming, especially when you're first coming into the program. And it's just such an awesome experience. Everyone's super encouraging.”

Anyone who has been around these girls can attest to how close-knit they have become on and off the court. It is especially important to be a cohesive unit in volleyball because there's no way for one player to carry the team.

No player can touch the ball consecutively, meaning each player on the court has to be prepared to step up. In order to get the ball across the net, everyone must communicate efficiently, and that’s even more difficult to do when your team isn’t on the same page mentally. Schnittger, herself, has realized how lucky she is that her team gets along so well.

“They all like each other a lot, and as we all know as coaches or athletes, that doesn't always happen,” Schnittger said. “I've had teams in the past where that's not always the case, but it's really cool, because they genuinely love each other and they're all friends. I've had a couple outside sources come and tell me that, which is really nice.”

With only two games left in their regular season, the Thunder are continuing to rally around each other, as they have all season, in hopes of getting winning momentum and better seeding as they head into the state tournament.