The girls volleyball team lost to the Sacred Heart Gators in three sets: 22-25, 21-25, and 18-25 on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bears entered the game with intensity and fervor, but the first set began in favor of the Gators, who got their first points on the board with multiple kills. This initial loss galvanized the Bears into action, leading them to win two points of their own. After a block from senior middle blocker Kayla Greenbaum, the Bears managed to even the score at 3-3.
“My highlight of our game was definitely our blocks. We get really hyped every time we have a good block because it’s a very special thing,” freshman setter Calista Chou said.
After another kill by the Gators, the Bears were able to respond promptly with quick saves and hits by senior outside hitter Jocelyn Chang and Chou, managing to bring the score to 5-4 in the Bears’ favor. Three consecutive kills and an ace furthered their lead to 9-6.
“We were really consistent and we’d always score when they scored,” junior outside hitter Sophie Marks said. “We were able to hang on with their rhythm and pace, and we didn’t let them bother us.”
The Bears’ intense energy was countered by the Gators, who tied the game back at 10-10. After a few missed hits and serves, the score crept up to 15-11 with the Gators in the lead.
Noticing the Gators’ increasing lead, Marks set the ball to Chang, who hit it and gained the Bears a point to bring the score to 18-15. The Bears carried this heightened energy during the next few points of the set—after a weak serve by SHP, the Bears handled the ball carefully and tipped it over, scoring again.
Despite notable attempts by Chang, and Marks, M-A struggled to hit the ball in the other team’s court successfully. At this point, the Gators took a substantial five-point lead of 22-17.
Returning strong and determined, senior libero Kylie Winters, sophomore setter Teagan Forcier-Koranda, and sophomore middle blocker Emerson Edwards worked together to score a point, bringing it to 22-18. Despite Chou following this up with two consecutive aces, SHP managed to score three points and secured the win for the first set.
The second set began quickly, and after a few successful serves from Greenbaum and some missed hits from the Gators, the score still remained even at 7-7. Following multiple lengthy rallies and a few out-of-bounds swings by M-A, the score rose to 11-8 in favor of the Gators.
The Bears returned determined to cover some ground, but not before Winters dove for a ball and injured her arm. Senior defensive specialist Tamara Rubinsky took on the libero position following Winters’ injury.
Throughout the set, the Gators maintained their slight lead until a strategic tip by SHP brought their lead to 20-16, marking the beginning of their dominant position in the set. Numerous intense and long rallies drove the score up to 24-20, with the Bears unable to close any gap in the score.
Despite a strong hit by Chang, the Gators responded with a hit of their own and ended the second set 25-21.
The third set began in favor of the Bears, beginning with a quick kill. After an ace by Chou and a kill by Chang, the score rose to 3-1. The Bears’ might led to multiple successful tips and hits, and brought the score up to 7-2.
The Gators noticed the Bears’ striking offense and responded with some of their own, closing the score gap with their startling offense, 12-12.
Following nail-biting rallies, aces, and kills with impressive performances from Marks, Rubinsky, and Chou, such efforts were to no avail as the Gators maintained their 19-17 lead.
In defiance of the Gators’ leading position, the Bears persevered. A remarkable play by Rubinsky, Chou, and Chang scored the Bears a point. However, the Gators ultimately overpowered the Bears, the final set ending at 25-18.
“I think our defense could have been a little better. We were talking well, but the other teams had really aggressive serves and attacks. Defense is something that we are trying to get better at right now,” Chou said.
The Bears will return to the court to play Half Moon Bay away on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
*Louisa King is a journalist for the M-A Chronicle
