Keeping Up With The Varsity Volleyball Team

By Julie Bautista, Staff Reporter

December, 2021

The varsity volleyball team finished with a record of five wins and five losses, barely missing the playoffs due to an inability to defeat district competitor NYOS. The result was disappointing given the team’s high hopes. Early in the season, coach Anthony Martin said, “I have a strong belief that our varsity team will make it to the playoffs because they’ve worked so hard and it’s a good team.”

The team prepared for the season with intensity, according to Princesa Mora, a senior and captain of the team. She said, “For this season we had a two-week-long camp in the summer since our season is so early in the school year, we decided to start early and get as much practice in as possible and now we practice after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as in class so we don’t waste any time.” These efforts demonstrate how much passion the whole team put into their season.

Apart from NYOS, the Cardinals’ toughest competition was Meridian, since they’re at the top of our league and have maintained a reputation for being undefeatable. 

“We feel like that really gets in our heads when we are in games. We are brought down because in our head we don’t establish a strong mindset. We just think back and remember all the mistakes we’ve made that caused our losses with this team, but there’s still hope against Meridian this year. We have not and will not give up. The whole team is determined to defeat Meridian no matter what it takes,” said Mora.

COVID-19 also affected how our volleyball team prepared for its games. Last year, the season was delayed and was placed in the spring when it’s regularly in the fall.  Although COVID-19 did give them more practice time, it created a conflict with senior schedules. Another disadvantage is the challenge of playing with a mask on. As Mora said, “It’s hard to breathe and have enough air through the game.”

The season coming to an end and the parting of some team members is “definitely sad,” said Mora. “But I believe in each and every one of them that they will maintain that work ethic that we have established leading them to advance in the season next year.”