Cavaliers serve their way to victory

Securing a close victory, the girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated MAST Academy on the school’s senior night

BY MARTA RODRIGUEZ, CONTENT EDITOR

Spiking their energy towards overcoming a close match, the school’s girls varsity volleyball team had a victorious senior night against the MAST Academy Makos on Thursday, Nov. 19. After starting their preparation later in the school year because of COVID-19, the school’s team excitedly took on the beginning of their season.

With family and supporters cheering on the players through a Zoom meeting and teammates motivating the girls from the bench, the game began at 5 p.m. Prepared to step on the court and put their skills like diving for the ball and overhand serves into action, the school’s team got ready to receive the other teams serve, while MAST Academy got the ball first. The school then made three touches and spiked it over, scoring the first point of the game.

“The practice before we worked as if our life depended on it, spending time working on our skills and more,” senior co-captain Deborah Eusebio said.

With a dominating first set, the school scored every point, which motivated the Makos to take their game to the next level and match the game 25-22. However, the schools’ flawless passes and serves led them to gain more points, winning the first part of the game. When the second set rolled around, the school’s team started off strong, finishing their passes with perfect spikes and blocking the incoming passes from the Makos. Towards the middle of the set, the Cavaliers secured a 2 - 0 lead against the efforts of the Makos.

“Aside from the energy being displayed on the court, we worked well as a team and got several amazing saves,” senior co-captain Madeline Cohen said.

MAST dominated the third set of the game, breaking the alignment of players that the school’s team had set up and forcing strong spikes through the hands of the blocking Cavaliers. Confused with a few calls made by the referees, the girls were back and MAST seized the opportunity to score even more points on them. The set finished 2 - 1, with MAST winning their first set of the game.

Coach Monica De la Vega used the break between sets as a way to motivate the players and give them new direction. The school served the ball but lost it when MAST spiked it back, giving MAST the first point of the fourth set.

After several competitive plays, the Makos were up 11- 4. Motivated to stand her ground, Eusebio scored a couple of points, blocked two incoming passes from MAST and lifted the spirits of nervous teammates. MAST then came back, hitting the ball with stronger spikes and defensive skills as the school trailed 13 - 24, as the Makos secured tied the sets at 2 - 2, taking both teams to the fifth set of the game.

The last set was full of excitement and adrenaline. Both teams were close in score throughout, making one point after the other. Outside hitter Emma Hardie served a few times, scoring a point each time she did, making the score 7 - 5. After eight quick minutes, MAST caught up, with the score being tied 12 - 12 as both teams were three points away from winning. The final point came as MAST tried to spike the ball but the school’s defenders quickly blocked the ball and sent it back to the Makos. Cheering was heard everywhere from the court, as some seniors got emotional and the whole team was relieved to win.

“I was ecstatic because people tell you that you will always remember your senior night win or loss, with the game being so close it felt amazing that I would remember it as a win,” Cohen said.