On Thursday, September 11, the Irvington Varsity Girl’s Volleyball team faced off against American High School in a home game. Despite a loss of 0-3, the team never faltered, staying consistent until the end.
From the moment the team stepped on the court, team spirit was high. Both the bench and the crowd cheered loudly throughout the game. Even when American began to score, the players were able to refocus and maintain a positive mindset. Team Captain Brianna Tu (12) mentioned, “after the first set, we were able to reset, and it got a lot better.” Particularly, the team’s setters were able to adjust quickly, keeping the offense going. This ultimately contributed to a close second set, ending with a score of 18-25.
The Varsity team consists of five new freshmen, creating a very new team dynamic. Ellie Lim (11) notes that since it’s the beginning of the season, the team is “still trying to build team chemistry.” Despite these challenges, the freshmen were able to keep a positive mindset and be consistent. All-rounder Isabelle Nguyen (9) played particularly well, as Lim notes she “held herself up really well” and was a great team player.
The team also faced an injury before the start of the game, as starting outside hitter Ellie Lim (11) was unable to play. Meha Vedere (12) describes having to “make some adjustments to the lineup” in order to fill in for the injured player. The team found their replacements in Yashu Tubati (10) and Celine Wang (11). Despite having never played the position before, they were able to step up and play in the front row.
Going forward, the team aims to work on certain skills. In terms of offense, players noted passing as one of the most crucial areas of improvement. This is reflected in the team’s practice sessions, with many drills focusing on passing and getting up serves. Another goal of the team is to work on blocking the opposing team, with the middle and outside players getting their hands up to create a wall.This will allow the team to be able to pick up more balls, and keep the offense going as well.
Despite the loss against American, the Varsity Girl’s Volleyball team still has a long season ahead and plenty of opportunities to show their improvement. Be sure to attend their next game against Mission San Jose High School on Tuesday, September 30 at Irvington.
