Kinlagh Boudreau is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover North High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – Tears welled up in the eyes of a junior varsity Mustang as she watched her older sister and the North High School girls volleyball team keep the win streak alive following an emotional 3-2 comeback victory over the Sierra Linda Bulldogs at home on October 21. 

“They played so good,” Arlinda Figueroa said. “I’m crying right now.”

Arlinda’s older sister and senior middle blocker, Natalie Figueroa, scored her team's match point with her fifth-set kill nearly two hours into the match.  

The Mustangs won the third set in a row to end the match, erasing the Bulldogs’ two-set lead. 

According to Arlinda, Natalie and her best friend, senior outside hitter Yuliana Apodaca, help develop her game. 

“I wanna be that good one day,” Arlinda said. “They guide me.”

For Apodaca, one of five returning seniors and three team captains, is constantly encouraging her teammates on the court, whether the point was won or lost.

“I feel like I can talk to the girls and have a connection with the girls,” Apodaca said.

Leadership comes naturally to the captain as her youth volleyball coach was always encouraging and treated the team like family. Apodaca looks to create that same environment with her players, especially the young newcomers. 

“We had a sleepover in Tucson at a tournament,” Apodaca said. “That really helped everyone get together.”

Figuring out how to communicate with new players was at first achallenge for the three captains, Apodaca said, but the Mustangs bounced back with a nine-game winning streak and four games left in the regular season. 

“I’m just very proud of our team for coming together,” Apodaca said. 

Head coach Mindy Williams said she relies on her younger players with an empty bench this season.

“There’s been a lot of improvement,” Williams said, “They’ve come a long way, and they’ve been contributing to our success this season.”

Cheers and songs bounced off the echoing walls of the North High gym from both sides of the net. The Mustangs and the Bulldogs never stopped cheering. 

A close match down to the last kill, hearts pounded in the cold gymnasium. 

“I almost had a freaking heart attack,” Williams said.

Proud of her players, Williams said they were determined to win and they played with heart and pride. 

“It wasn’t pretty,” Williams said, adding that the team’s goal is to win out and make the playoffs. “But for us to come back after being down two and win three in a row is a huge accomplishment."