Anne-Marie Iemmolo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Bourgade Catholic High School for AZPreps365.com

The Camp Verde Cowboys defeated the Bourgade Catholic Golden Eagles on Thursday night in a three-set sweep, 25-18, 25-14, and 25-20. 

The Cowboys’ (3-5,1-4) win Thursday night also meant ending a three-game losing streak.

In the practices leading up to Thursday’s match against the Golden Eagles (2-7, 2-6), Cowboys coach Britney Armstrong and her team prepared to expect the unexpected. 

“Bourgade will give you anything,” Armstrong explained. “They'll either set it up and get a kill, or they might just be sending one over on you.” 

Armstrong is no stranger to navigating game strategies from the Eagles. Last season, the Cowboys faced off against the Eagles twice, with the Cowboys winning both times.

The Eagles were on the edge of extending the match to four sets after team captain Alice Gallegos scored two kills, narrowing the Cowboys’ lead to 24-20. However, the Eagles did not complete their comeback, with the final point of the game coming from an error.

Throughout the match, the two teams rallied back and forth, but the Cowboys continued to maintain their lead by just a few points. 

The Eagles responded with some solid defensive stops but were ultimately unable to gain control of the game. 

The Cowboys' victory was a result of their successes from both sides of the court. The team’s strong defense kept the ball in play while their offense continued to put points on the board. 

Cowboys opposite hitter Haygen Armstrong was the team’s lead scorer, finishing the game with 11 points. 

The Cowboys were a few points away from winning the second set when Golden Eagles outside hitter Emily Bonilla spiked a powerful kill, keeping her team alive. 

Bonilla remained focused and fought until the very end of the game. The junior outside hitter has become a powerhouse for the Eagles, helping lead the team on the court. 

“We kept up with each other and just kept pushing ourselves,” Bonilla said. 

Bonilla finished the match with five kills. 

During the second set, Cowboys sophomore opposite hitter Page Oothoudt spiked the ball, going for the kill, but was blocked by Eagles junior middle blocker Kyra Williams. 

Williams is currently ranked number one in the 3A - North Central conference for most total blocks this season. She finished Thursday night’s match with five blocks and three kills.

“They need to come in and make a change and make a difference,” Eagles coach Jesse Santos said in regards to the remainder of the team’s season. 

Santos has dedicated the past few practices to improving his team’s defense. Despite the loss, Santos was happy to see his team play with tenacity and improve their blocking techniques. 

The Golden Eagles will compete in the Epic Tourneys Volleyball Invite at Phoenix Country Day School starting Friday. The Cowboys will host the Wickenburg Wranglers (1-6, 0-5) at 6 p.m. Tuesday.