The Girls’ Volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss at home against the Pine Crest Panthers in the regional final. This heartbreaking loss sadly put an end to their season, but it was a season that started off bleak, yet in the face of adversity, the team rose to become one of the best teams in Florida.
To begin the season, their schedule tested them early and often, pitting them against some of the best talent in the state and the nation. The Raiders suffered four losses to Divine Savior, Mater Dei, Lake Highland Prep, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
“We had the talent, but things just weren’t clicking yet on the court,” said junior defensive specialist Veda Sharma. “It was hard dropping games we knew we should’ve won,” said Sharma. But these losses would build the foundation for plenty of strong performances in the middle of the season.
After those performances, the Raiders found their rhythm for the next few games, winning 13 of their last 16 games before the playoffs, entering districts with a 16-7 record, fueled by a want to achieve their goal and a need to play for the person next to them. “I think what fueled us is knowing that we had a goal that we wanted to accomplish, and knew what we expected from each other, and played for each other,” said junior captain Kate Welty.
They proceeded to sweep through the district, defeating the Kilian Cougars and Carrollton Cyclones, and finished it off with a huge district championship win against the Ransom Everglades Raiders in a 3-2 thriller, then focused their attention on the region, where they would get 3-0 wins against Nova Southeastern University School and Monsignor Pace Spartans. But this streak would end in the regional final against the Pine Crest Panthers, a team they struggled against all year.
Despite the tragic end, the team finished 23rd in Florida, leaving them motivated and with big hopes for the next season. Since most of their players are juniors and will want to treat every game as special, they will create more leadership roles for those behind them.
“My biggest takeaway from this season is to treat every game like it’s my last,” said junior libero Mia Lavalle. “I am going to work on building my teammates’ confidence and make them know that they’re the best on the court,” said Lavalle.
