PHOENIX — Nine seniors will lead the Bourgade Catholic Girls Volleyball program into the 2024-25 season, which will look a bit different this year due to a move into a new region within the 3A Conference.
For the past three seasons, the Golden Eagles played in the 3A North Central Region. This year, they are in the 3A Metro Region.
“I’ve got to do my job and my part and go and study film again and see where they [teams] stand and look at their records and how else I can better myself as a coach to make sure these girls go and play as hard as they can,” head coach Jesse Santos said.
Santos, entering his second season at the helm, has about 20 returning players from last year’s team, including nine seniors who are preparing for their final season on the court. “I want to ensure those seniors that have been here with me at Bourgade that they take the life lessons I’ve taught them on and off the court,” Santos said.
One of those seniors is Emily Bonilla, who has played volleyball all four years. As a freshman, Bonilla was a swinger on the junior varsity team and was called up to varsity as needed. She has been on the varsity team since her sophomore year.
“We’re not only playing for each other, but we’re playing for the school, for the coaches, and we’re putting the work in that we’ve been practicing,” Bonilla said.
She explained that the biggest challenge this season will be playing the new teams now that Bourgade Catholic is in a different region.
“This team, we’re very competitive since we have that strong bond and we all want to win. We know that we can leave all our problems outside the court and once we’re inside, it’s just volleyball,” Bonilla said.
Last season, the Golden Eagles went 5-19, but four of those victories were region wins, which was one of Santos’ main goals. This year, his primary goal is to make the playoffs.
“The wins were at home because we had the involvement of the community, the parents, and the teachers,” Santos said. For home games, Santos has the girls personally invite Bourgade Catholic teachers to games. “It shows ‘thank you’ for being here, we want you here, and it allowed the wins to come because the community was behind us,” Santos said.
Bonilla also has goals for this season, including helping her team get 10 kills per game. With nine seniors, there’s a good chance that all players on the court at any given time will be seniors. “We have such good chemistry. We’ve all grown together, and this year we’ve got that common bond with each other. We know how everyone reacts and how to pick each other up.”
Before the season started, Santos had the entire volleyball program attend Mass on campus, where they received a special blessing from Bourgade Catholic’s chaplain, Father Elario Zambakari.
“Bringing the faith to what we do and everything that we do and say around us in the community shows who we are as Bourgade Catholic. I love it when we can pray before a game and I’m not stopped,” Santos said.
The Lady Golden Eagles will take on the Dysart Demons on Wednesday, Sept. 4, on the road at Dysart High School in El Mirage. Freshmen will play at 4 p.m., junior varsity at 5 p.m., and varsity at 6 p.m.