The Fountain Hills High School boys volleyball team battled its opponents to four sets in both of its matches this previous week, to varying results.

The Falcons’ first match was on Tuesday, April 16, against Gilbert Christian. FHHS lost the match while winning only one set, 18-25, 25-20, 16-25, 20-25.

The next day, April 17, the Falcons took on McClintock and won the match in four sets, 25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20.

FHHS boys volleyball has two matches this week. The first was on Tuesday, April 23, against American Leadership Academy Gilbert.

Their next match is Thursday, April 25, away at Benjamin Franklin High School starting at 5:30 p.m.

Gilbert Christian

Head coach Halle Harker said she believes that her team had the ability to win Tuesday’s match against Gilbert Christian.

“It is tough to walk away from a loss knowing that you were the better team,” Harker said. “I say better, not more deserving, because Gilbert Christian deserved to win that match. They were focused and determined for longer than we were.”

Harker said the Falcons began to relax when things went their way, sitting back and allowing Gilbert to capitalize on openings that shouldn’t have been there.

“I think they had this attitude that it’s okay to make some mistakes, we have time to come back,” Harker said. “But they don’t realize how fast the game can get, especially in the last sets.”

McClintock

Harker felt that of all the teams that the Falcons have played this year, McClintock was the one they were most evenly matched against.

“Wednesday’s match was a lot of fun because of how even the two teams were,” Harker explained. “McClintock is a very athletic team, like we are, and they also have a limited volleyball knowledge.”

Harker said she is happy, though, with the progress that her team has been making in its first season in spite of some hiccups along the way.

“The guys are still excited to come to practice each day and, I know I say this a lot, but even the progress from Tuesday’s to Wednesday’s game was noticeable,” Harker said. “I am really proud that the players have stepped up to the occasion, given all the changes our roster has gone through.”