Bump, set, hit, spike, never let it hit the floor: a mantra that carried the varsity volleyball team to victory the night of the crosstown showdown Sept. 12.
“It was a very thrilling game,” senior Dayden Dyess said, who played right-side hitter. “The fact that our teams were equal in talent and we both lost a couple of good players made for a really exhilarating five sets.”
The game drew the hype and attention from both sides of the city. Junior and outside hitter Erica Hernandez recalls the thunderous applause of the packed crowd and the team’s own excited hollers after each successful play.
“My favorite memory from the game was when we got a point, we had a good kill or if one of the front row players had a really good hit, and everybody cheered,” Hernandez said.
The sister schools fought neck-and-neck throughout the night, each set ending with close scores. After the third set, leaving the Raiders behind 2-1, the varsity team entered a new battle of stamina and maintaining optimism as the game was pushed to five sets.
“Our biggest challenge was holding our own and keeping up our hype against a close-matched team throughout the game,” Dyess said.
Junior Ella Denny credits their performance to their skill.
“In varsity volleyball, the girls play a lot harder,” Denny said. “We play at a faster tempo, and require more skill, more thinking through. It’s definitely more intense on varsity.”
The team played the remaining two sets with a passionate intensity, blowing out the Pirates with a final score of 15-6.
“We all are really good at working together as a team and using our strengths and being smart with the process,” Denny said.
The team hopes to continue their 7-0 streak as they prepare to face the Sachse Mustangs Sept. 22.
“Sasche is our biggest competition,” Denny said. “It’s going to be a tough fight.”
Aiming to make state after playoffs, the girls look forward to a rewarding season as they focus on their love for the game.
“I enjoy the environment,” Denny said. “The girls are really sweet, and I enjoy pushing myself and becoming a better person and volleyball player at the same time.”
