Junior Yasmin Gupta spikes the ball as two Lions jump and attempt to block her.
After winning the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-17, the girls’ varsity volleyball team was suddenly behind their league rival Valley Christian, 23-24, on Sept. 16.
Then 6’ 1” freshman Monet Cook spiked a ball, causing the crowd to give some of the loudest support all season.
They banged the bleachers and clapped in support of the Cavs.
Yet after some more flip-flopping, the Cavs lost the third set, 24-26.
The girls started the next set with intensity and more crowd support. Captain Alexa Mathisen’s serves aced the Lions twice in a row, and the Cavs earned four aces before they reached 15 points.
After several spikes by freshman Briana Davies and many nail-biting plays, things began to get tighter by the end of the set, with the Cavs barely up, 23-22.
The audience (larger than usual because of the Sports Boosters’ Chili Cookoff) was stirred by a group of junior boys and chanted, “Let’s go, Cavs!”
And the girls responded, winning the set (and match), 25-22.
According to Cook, the outside hitter, it all came down to communication.
“We were so cohesive, and everything was on; our serves, blocks, sets and hits were all great,” Cook said.
Sophomore Lia Kaufman agreed.
Sophomore Bella Mathisen hits the ball above the Lions’ defense.
“We really came together as a team instead of drifting off,” Kaufman said.
“We knew going into this that the Lions were going to be our league rivals. And I’d say we were ready and prepared.”
Kaufman further praised the audience.
“Towards the end we were dragging a little,” Kaufman said.
“But once the crowd started cheering, once they were getting pumped up, it got us pumped up.”
This victory came right after their disheartening loss, 0-3, to Woodland Christian on Sept. 14.
The first set they lost badly 6-25, following up 16-25 and 17-25.
“That was a learning experience,” Mathisen said.
The next game against Buckingham Charter will be at Buckingham in Vacaville on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.
—By Chardonnay Needler
