In the packed gymnasium, the National Honor Society (NHS) hosted its annual boys versus girls volleyball game during Flex on Friday, Dec. 5. The girls team claimed a close victory 25-22 after an intense final back-and-forth relay.

Planning for the game began weeks earlier. Led by NHS Thirst Project Directors Nithin Shankara ‘26 and Eileen Wu ‘26, who handled sign-ups, communications with staff, and logistics, the annual tradition took a collective effort.

“We sent out the sign up sheet and students signed up from the form,” NHS President Sarah Jung ‘26 said. “People signed up and there were three extra people, but we selected the first few people and sent them an email letting them know if they were selected.”

This careful coordination ensured that both teams were ready to complete, even without formal practice before the match.

“We planned out how the sign- ups would work and then contacted Ms. [Amber] Linz, admin, and the athletic coordinator about the event to get Ms. [Erin] Campbell’s approval,” Jung said. “The day of the game, a lot of the volleyball players who volunteered to help set up did a lot getting the court ready and bringing out materials.”

Before the first serve, both teams entered the match with little to no preparation, creating an unpredictable start.

“Biggest challenge was figuring out each other’s strengths and weaknesses as we had never played with each other before besides me and Natalie,” Vivian Hapka ‘26 said. “We expected they were going to be athletic and decently skilled because we knew some of them had played before.”

The girls opened the game strong, relying on quick communication and on-the-spot teamwork. Despite minimal practice, they organized quickly by relying on communication before and throughout the game.

“I’m most proud of the fact that we won, and we put all our effort into trying to win because we didn’t really practice beforehand,” Erica Nielsen ’27 said. “We all just came together and really worked as a team. Beforehand, we all just kind of rallied a little bit and tried to see who was good at serving and who wasn’t.”

As the girls built a strong lead, the boys began closing the gap with aggressive plays and long rallies, keeping both teams neck and neck.

“I remember that at the start of the game, like the first two or three points, we had some really good rallies,” Asher David ‘26 said. “I think it was pretty intense throughout the game.”

Mid-match, the pace sharpened and the tension rose, each play pushing both sides to fight harder for control. The momentum swung repeatedly as both teams traded points. As the rallies got longer, the intensity grew, hyping the players and audience.

“That moment was when the boys started gaining a lead, and us girls were not playing the easy movers,” Sandali Gangwar ‘26 said. “They were, at one point, missing the spike, and we started gaming a lead. It kept changing.”

As both teams settled into a rhythm, the final stretch of the match grew increasingly competitive. The girls relied more heavily on their experienced players to hold their lead, while the boys tightened their court coverage and communication, allowing them to close the gap point by point. The rallies stretched longer as both sides persevered. As the score narrowed and the gym crescendoed, the match intensity heightened.

“I feel like the most intense rally was when the other side kept trying to score throughout the game,” Hardik Aslesh Sura ‘26 said. “One moment that stood out to me was when the ball was about to hit the line, but I had to get it with my hand, I had to reach over a little.”

In the end, the girls secured the final point, closing out the match 25-22. The tight score reflected the effort and determination on both sides, with each team battling through extended volleys and quick adjustments. Even as the match remained friendly, the competitive spirit and crowd energy transformed it into a standout moment for NHS this year. The atmosphere reminded students why these events matter.

“I think it’s important to involve the student body because a lot of these people come to the events to see and cheer on their friends,” Gangwar said. “It really helps bring everyone together.”

The girls team walked away not just with momentum, but with a deeper confidence built from pushing through long rallies and high pressure moments. The boys, despite falling just short, demonstrated determination and teamwork that made every point a battle, leaving both sides proud of their effort and the spirited competition they shared.

“It showed me how when everyone on a team is working together towards a specific goal,” Sura said. “It doesn’t matter what the different ideologies or thought processes between them might be. They’ll all sync together at one point or another to achieve that goal.”