The girls varsity volleyball team defeated the Framingham Flyers in three sets on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Schluntz Gymnasium for their senior night.
Senior and captain Bella Wong served the first ball for the Warriors. After a few volleys back and forth, the Flyers hit the ball out of bounds, and the Warriors got off to an early lead of 1-0.
According to senior and captain Laurel Zahka, Wong was unable to play for the entire season.
“I think the absolute high was the first serve of our game. We got our setter, Bella Wong in. She’s a senior, and she tore her ACL this year, so she wasn’t able to play the season. So it was really great to get her in the game,” Zahka said.
After the first point, the Warriors maintained a small lead, bringing the score to 9-7. Despite the Warriors’ best efforts, they were not able to pull ahead by more than two or three points at a time.
The Warriors and Flyers were neck and neck, fighting for points until the score reached 18-17. At this point, a series of errors by the Flyers and a newfound efficiency from the Warriors allowed the Warriors to pull ahead and win the first set 25-17.
Similar to the first, the second set began with a strong serve and a point for the Warriors. The Warriors seemed unstoppable during the second set and were able to pull ahead with a commanding lead from the start, bringing the score to a convincing 13-2 before a timeout was called.
After the timeout, the Flyers were able to gain four more points before the Warriors shut them down, ending the second set 25-6.
Maintaining momentum from the second set, the Warriors quickly pulled ahead in the third and ran the score all the way to 19-9 before beginning to slow down.
Zahka said the team struggled to maintain intensity during the latter half of the game.
“I think we have played some tougher teams, but it takes a lot of mental strength to be able to play a team that’s not gonna get stronger than that and keep that energy up,” Zahka said.
With a slump in the Warriors spirit, the Flyers were able to claw their way back and bring the score to 24-20, with the Warriors still ahead.
With tensions high and chants ringing from the stands, the final serve of the match was hit, and a long volley ensued, ending with a point for the Warriors and the score resting at 25-20. Thinking they had won, the Warriors ran to celebrate together and the gymnasium erupted with cheers.
After several seconds the referee recalled the point and awarded it to the Flyers. A time-out was then called and both teams huddled together.
After the huddle broke with a chant, the Warriors repositioned themselves and didn’t have to wait long before the Flyers’ serve went out of bounds, and the Warriors won the set 25-21, and the game in three sets.
According to head coach Caitlin Sobelewski, all three of the team’s seniors had a significant impact on the game.
“Laurel, I think she served over 10 aces tonight. She was really rock solid from the service line. Also Serina, with her blocking. She was like a brick wall. So she got a lot of softs over them, which was really nice to see,” Sobelewski said.
After the game, teammates gathered, and parents took pictures with their seniors. A speech was given to celebrate the seniors, and senior parents set a ball for their children.
Senior and captain Serina Oyhama said that volleyball has helped her grow as a person.
“It’s very sad. It’s very emotional. I started playing my freshman year, and the summer before my freshman year. Ever since then, sports have been a big part of my identity,” Oyhama said. “It’s a bittersweet feeling but I’m confident that I’ve been able to evolve into a different person.”
Sebolewski said she hopes the seniors can continue to grow using what they have learned from volleyball.
“My biggest message is just for them to keep being themselves. They have all the components of really awesome women,” Sobolewski said. “They all do so much in volleyball, so just continuing with that and taking any lessons they might have learned through volleyball like teamwork and camaraderie, and just applying it to the rest of their lives.”
