Against all odds

Girls Volleyball make it to CCS finals for the first time since 1998 BY ISHAANI DAYAL AND ANNA JEROLIMOV

The Varsity Girls Volleyball team made history when they proceeded to CCS finals for the first time in 23 years, and placed 2nd in the tournament. Despite losing 3-1 to Menlo-Atherton High School on Nov. 6 in the CCS finals, their placement put them in the NorCal playoffs for the first time in MVHS Girls Volleyball history. The final game followed a unique run for the team, after they won unexpectedly against Mountain View High School in the semifinals 3-1 and underwent a coaching adjustment midway into the tournament.

Junior Sydney Su, a varsity setter since freshman year, states that going into the season, she was unsure of how the team would perform due to the fact that many seniors just graduated and because COVID restrictions had caused the previous playoffs to be cancelled.

Su believes that one important factor that allowed the team to succeed was its new head coach, Nicki Ezatagha. Her focus on practicing serve receives allowed the team to hone in on this skill and respond offensively to other teams’ serves.

However, due to Ezatagha being away after regular league play, Boys Volleyball Coach Paul Chiu stepped in to guide the team. The change in coaching initially added a little uncertainty for the team, according to junior Krupa Shanware, but Su felt assured by Chiu’s experience coaching the Boys Volleyball team.

According to senior and captain Lia Vorthmann, everyone “took a liking” to Chiu pretty early into CCS, which contributed to the overall team dynamic. She believes his coaching style also pushed the team to do better.

“Probably the biggest difference between him and our other coach Nicki is that he kind of lets us coach ourselves during timeouts, like we just talked amongst ourselves,” Vorthmann said. “So I think that really helped us build confidence because everybody knew and trusted each other. It was just easier to play.”

Vorthmann and Su agree that a

highlight of the season was the team’s victory in the CCS semifinal match against Mountain View High School. Many considered the team underdogs as they entered the match due to them losing to Mountain View twice previously during the regular season with scores of 3-0 and 3-1.

“When we beat Mountain View in the CCS semifinals as a team, that was the best we’ve ever played,” Vorthmann said. “The energy was just really good. The moment we won, everybody rushed in and were yelling and jumping, and then the Mountain View coach ended up walking over to us and congratulating us, telling us we played really well.”

Shanware attributes the high energy on the court to the surprising amount of supporters in the stands during the semifinal game. While she usually had only seen close friends and family at prior games, she hadn’t “ever seen that many people come out to support Monta Vista volleyball.” Shanware states that another major factor that allowed the team to succeed despite their switch in coaches was the relationships the girls had forged with each other early in the season. “It’s just the bond that we all have with each other,” Shanware said. “I think the biggest part of our success is just being so good at working with each other. Having that little piece click in, that worked so well

for us.” Looking ahead to future seasons, Shanware hopes to experience rising through CCS again and hopes the team dynamic will remain strong even without the presence of the team’s four graduating seniors. IT’S JUST THE BOND “I know all of [the graduating seniors] THAT WE ALL HAVE WITH EACH OTHER. THE BIGGEST PART OF OUR SUCCESS IS so well, and I’ve played with them for so long now that it’s definitely gonna feel different,” Shanware said. “Of course, we have our captains, our leadership comes from that senior class, so it’s JUST BEING SO GOOD going to be interesting to see who will AT WORKING WITH EACH OTHER. step up and fill that. It’s been a great season.” Ezatagha agrees that a large part of

JUNIOR KRUPA the team’s success can be attributed to SHANWARE the bond that the teammates have with each other. “The biggest lesson that the girls have learned throughout the season is to really lean on your teammates and be vulnerable,” Ezatagha said. “So I think if we continue to carry out that mentality, we’ll find success.”

PHOTO | ANNA JEROLIMOV

The team celebrates after defeating Windsor High School 3-1 in the first round of NorCal playoffs, during their first time ever in the tournament. Senior and captain Lia Vorthmann made the final kill of the match, giving the Matadors the win.

PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG

Although the Matadors started off with the ball due to the violation made by Leigh High School during the tip-off, LHS quickly caught up after stealing PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG the ball and making two layups. Without allowing the Matadors to score even once, LHS proceeds to score a third layup despite senior and captain Keshav Balaji’s attempt to block the shot.

PHOTO | TARYN LAM

Senior and captain Ted Zhang pushes past a Leigh High School defender in hopes of passing the ball to one of his teammates. Halfway through the game, the Matadors trailed behind LHS, 29-13.

PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG

Sophomore Vivian Ong steals the ball from her opponents and dribbles it down the court. The Matadors faced off against Sequoia High School on Nov. 29. MVHS won 42-33.

PHOTO | TVISHA GUPTA

On Nov. 27, the Varsity Girls Basketball team held its annual alumni scrimmage. The Matadors beat their predecessors with a final score of 70-47.

PHOTO | TARYN LAM

PHOTO | TARYN LAM

Senior Ted Zhang attempts a layup during the third quarter of the game against Leigh High School on Nov. 20. During the third quarter, the Matadors led 21-13.

PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG

PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG

Despite a Leigh High School player’s attempt to block junior and captain Austin Hwang from making a shot, he manages to score a two-pointer, bringing the team one point behind LHS during the second quarter.

PHOTO | TARYN LAM

Junior Varshini Peddinti prevents the ball from going out of bounds as she searches for a teammate to pass to. The Matadors led 28-15 during the second quarter against Santa Clara High School.

PHOTO | ANNA KAMINITZ

Players from both MVHS and Archbishop Mitty High School jump to get a header from an incoming through ball. The Matadors won the scrimmage with a score of 1-0. The match was a preseason scrimmage that does not count towards the team’s record.

PHOTO | ANNA KAMINITZ

Senior Remy Haghighi runs up the field to retrieve a throw in from a teammate at a game against Archbishop Riordan High School. The Matadors won its first non-league game, though its first league game will take place on Thursday, Dec. 16.

PHOTO | ANNA KAMINITZ

Junior Saanvi Mantripagada dribbles around an opponent during the first half of the game against Gunn High School on Nov. 29. The Matadors fell 11-1, with the sole goal scored by junior Alexa Baxter.

PHOTO | ANNA KAMINITZ

Senior and captain Mikey Tzankov dribbles down the field past an opponent from Archbishop Riordan High School on Nov. 23. An assist made by Tzankov, passed to junior Abhiram Tatavarty, led the Matadors to win with a final score of 1-0. During the first scrimmage of the pre-season, the Matadors face off Harker High School. After receiving the ball from senior Nyssa Chadha, sophomore Niku Sedarat dribbles the ball down the field in hopes of securing a goal.

PHOTO | TARYN LAM

PHOTO | ANNA KAMINITZ

In a team scrimmage during an after school practice, senior and captain Edin Kraja dribbles around senior Ibrahim Hawwari. This season, the Matadors’ practices consist of drills that focus primarily on gaining and maintaining possession of the ball.

PHOTO | MATTHEW YOSHIMOTO

Sophomore Ekom Mann lunges at junior Hayden Ancheta after coach Andrew Pappas signals the wrestlers to “go live” — beginning a practice match that lasts a few minutes. Along with seniors Hannah Baker and Nitin Kukreja, Ancheta is a captain this season, and the first match is on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Instructed by coach Andrew Pappas, sophomore Samir Dhamija and senior Kaushal Amerancherla face off during the last minutes of practice. Three pairs can wrestle at one time, so non-participating athletes watch from the sides while conditioning. Junior Hayden Ancheta tackles sophomore Arya Palanivel as music plays in the background. The team listened to songs such as “Spicy (Remix)” by Dj Jabato and “We Paid” by 42 Dugg and Lil Baby.

Sophomore Akshat Debnath helps sophomore Ekom Mann stretch as their team warms up. At the start of the team’s daily practices from 3:45 to 6 p.m., the Matadors warm up and stretch, then run through drills and techniques. Afterwards, the team goes over new moves or refines previous skills.

PHOTO | ANNA JEROLIMOV PHOTO | ANNA JEROLIMOV

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH KIANA MARK

BY MICHELLE ZHENG

Now in her sixth year playing volleyball, Freshman Kiana Mark plays on the Varsity Girls Volleyball team as an outside hitter and was named the SCVAL freshman of the year. According to Mark, despite her commitments to club volleyball and academics, she wanted to join the Matadors and represent MVHS since elementary school.

“Club [volleyball is] different because there’s so many different people, but [for] your school, you’re just representing your community,” Mark said. “[That’s why] I chose to do school [volleyball].”

Mark explains that she is extremely happy with the Matadors’ performance this season, especially because the team made history by competing in the CCS D1 Championships and NorCal Playoffs for the first time since 1998.

PHOTO | FIRSTNAME LASTNAME “We played so well as a team,” Mark said. “I feel like we just had each other’s backs on everything and we weren’t scared. [We didn’t play] as six individuals. Instead, [we played as] a whole unit and a whole team on the court.”

While Mark is certain that she will continue to both represent MVHS and play for her club volleyball team, she is uncertain how her future with volleyball will unfold after high school.

“I do have a dream to play in college, but I don’t know how far or [what it] takes to get there,” Mark said. “But, I want to work to get to that point. Things can change, but I feel like everything that happens will happen for a reason.”

320

KILLS*

34

ACES*

*2021-22 Monta Vista season

@elestoque

PHOTO | LANCE TONG

PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG

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