During a thrilling home game that brought fans to the edge of their seats, the Lady Cavaliers volleyball team emerged victorious in both their junior varsity and varsity games against Mast Academy. Gables demonstrated not only their skill and teamwork but also their indomitable spirit.
“The girls love playing Mast since many of them are friends and play together, so we had to focus on not letting that get to them,” head Coach De La Vega said.
After a win versus the Sunset Knights’ volleyball team, the Lady Cavaliers entered the gym determined to win. On Sept. 14, it was the Junior Varsity Lady Cavaliers who set the stage with an impressive 2 to 0 triumph over the JV Mast Makos.
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., in the opening set, both JV teams engaged in a lot of back and forth hits with incredible rallies and powerful serves. Feeding off the energy from their varsity counterparts, the JV volleyball team showcased their skills and teamwork, ending the first set 25 to 13.
“[The plan was] to keep our energy up, to not get distracted, because a lot of us have friends on the other team, not to get distracted and be talking to them, not to take it too personally if we did lose but if we won not to brag,” junior Valentina Tomas said.
As the afternoon progressed, the JV team remained composed and continued to execute their game plan throughout the second set. Their defensive line held firm, preventing the Makos from scoring in pivotal rallies. They closed out the second set 25 to 23, sealing the 2 to 0 victory.
“The girls came out fighting hard, and I am very proud of the outcome of the game. They also kept a high energy throughout the game,” JV Coach Mykaya Kelly said.
Once again, the atmosphere in the gymnasium was electric when the varsity Cavaliers stormed the court. From the first serve and on, it was evident that the Lady Cavaliers meant business. The team was determined to give their home crowd a performance to remember.
The first set saw varsity take control early, with powerful serves and exceptional net play. The team’s libero, senior Audrey Noval, displayed remarkable agility, saving countless balls from touching the floor and setting up their attackers perfectly. Hitters Bianca Benson and Corina McDonal scored multiple points off their libero’s hits.
The Lady Cavaliers raced to a 25 to 15 victory in the first set, dominating at the net and leaving their opponents struggling to respond.
“[Our] game plan was to get Bianca Benson and Cori McDonald going, right off the bat, and I believe that happened. With their energy high, the team is pretty much unstoppable,” coach De La Vega said.
Continuing to dictate the pace of the game, Gables’ offense was relentless, with well-placed spikes and clever dinks that kept the Makos’ on their toes.
With a second set score of 25 to 16, the Lady Cavaliers extended their lead, showcasing their exceptional teamwork and court awareness.
As the game entered the third set, the Makos were determined to mount a comeback. However, the Lady Cavaliers remained dedicated to finish the job.
Their consistent serves and quick transitions between offense and defense kept the opposition at bay. Even when the Makos tried to regain some ground, the Lady Cavaliers remained cool under pressure, securing the final set 25 to 18. Their success can be attributed to the team’s talents and intense unity. As the season continues, the Lady Cavaliers will continue to persevere and dominate the competition.
During their next match, they will face off against Dr. Krop high school on Sept. 19.
