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Eyes glued on the ball, Brooklyn Hernandez ’29 practices her serve before the the game’s beginning. These last minutes of warm-up allowed the girls to get in the right headspace before plunging into the intensity of the game.
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Exploding with giggles, the JV White Team gathers together before the start of their first set. Showcasing not only strength and skill but team chemistry, the girls took their last game as an opportunity to commemorate an arduous, but unforgettable season.
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With a huge jump, Sophie Chen ’29 serves the ball. Her serves allowed for consecutive aces that built momentum for the Warriors.
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Laughing, Sophie Chen ’29 picks herself back up after a failed attempt at a dig. Despite small hiccups in performance, the JV White Team always managed to keep team spirit up through words of encouragement and support.
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Reaching for the ball, Sophie Chen ’29 sets the ball to prepare for her teammate Liberty Hargave ’29. Team coordination was one of the most important components that led the Warriors to victory throughout the game.
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Arms extended, Emily Zhang ’29 prepares to serve the ball. Zhang’s excellent technique at the end of the game was a source of pride for both her and her team, who praised her development.
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Looking each girl in the eye, Coach Paul Thailing reflects on the intense season. After critiquing them after every game in this exact spot, Thailing took this last get-together to express his pride for the growth of the team.
At their last game of the season, the JV White volleyball team went head-to-head with the Manor Mustangs on Friday, Oct. 24. Rising to the occasion, the Warriors exhibited strong teamwork to finish off their season, with a memorable success and a 2-0 sweep.
“I felt good at [the start of the game],” Sophie Chen ‘29 said. “Since it was our last, I wanted to end on a win. But it was also [sentimental] because I might not get to play with some of these girls anymore.”
Starting off with a bang, the Warriors quickly took the lead as the Mustangs struggled to coordinate, making for short rallies and allowing for consecutive aces by Kimmie Menendez ‘28. When the scoreboard reached 8-2, Manor called for timeout, giving the Warriors a moment to celebrate their strong beginning and receive feedback. Returning to the court, Liberty Hargave ‘29 executed an effective kill to end a lengthy rally. Showcasing strong communication that prevented holes in formation, the Warriors surged forward with growing momentum. An ace from Brooklyn Hernandez ‘29 brought the score to 15-2. Following this ace, the Warriors held their heads high, outscoring the Mustangs 6-2. An accidental touch to the net from the Warriors bought Manor a point, however with a 16 point lead at 21-5, the Warriors didn’t let small setbacks interfere with their concentration. Solid serves from Chen finished off the first set, ending at 25-5.
“I was really proud of Olivia in this game,” Georgia Leuck ‘29 said. “[Overall], I think she improved so much this season. I [also] thought Brooklyn had such good hits, and [I was happy because] everyone was really excited for [our last game].”
Determined to keep their energy up, the Warriors bursted into their next set with a strong lead, quickly rising to 6-2. Net balls from Manor paired with powerful blocks from Audrey Winders ‘28 kept the Warriors ahead. This streak continued thanks to impactful serves from Menendez, allowing the Warriors to quickly reach 14-4 as the Mustangs struggled with team coordination. At 17-8 another timeout was called by the Mustangs. The Warriors listened diligently to their Coaches’ critiques, who encouraged some to use less power while serving to prevent out balls. Jumping back into the game, the Warriors had a small issue with communication, but recovered swiftly. Successful hits from Lucy Aldrete ‘28 brought back the team’s momentum. Over 10 points ahead, Elizabeth Zhang ‘29 finished off the match with a graceful serve, winning the second set 25-12.
“I’m definitely going to miss everyone that was on my team,” Aldrete said. “It was such a special experience and a great team.”
