As the clock hit 3:30 p.m. on Sept 4., Coral Gables Senior High’s girls junior varsity volleyball team was ready to face G. Holmes Braddock Senior High. In an action-packed home game against the Bulldogs, both the junior varsity and varsity Lady Cavaliers came out victorious against the Braddock Bulldogs. Coming back from a win against Miami Sunset Senior High’s Knights, the Lady Cavaliers were prepared to win their sixth game in a row.
“After winning our last game, I felt prepared coming into this game. We have been practicing hard preparing for future games and we knew we had to give it our all,” sophomore Carolina Sesin said.
In the opening set, both teams fought hard to secure the win. The set featured strong serves coming from sophomores Carolina Sesin and Valentina Amador, and intense rallies that lasted up to two minutes, with both front lines blocking spikes and creating near point-securing plays which got denied by each team. However, the Lady Cavaliers prevailed winning 25-15, leaving them with a high morale for the next set.
“I felt confident after the first set. I feel like the other team was picking up their pace a little longer because we had a bigger lead but I knew we could match their energy,” sophomore Valentina Amador said.
Leading into their second set, the JV team searched for the win. The Braddock Bulldogs started off strong, taking the lead against the Lady Cavaliers, but after a pep talk from their new coach Audrey Noval, they were able to win the second set 25-13. At this point, they secured a 2-0 win, by being able to keep the ball on the opponent’s side by blocking spikes and keeping the Bulldogs moving.
“I did think we were going to win because we knew their weak spots from the beginning and had won the game before, so [by] cleaning up our mistakes from the first set [there] was a guaranteed win for our second set,” coach Audrey Noval said.
The first set showcased both varsity teams exchanging blows in a tightly contested battle. The Bulldogs came out strong, but the Lady Cavaliers responded with equal intensity. Powerful spikes from junior Corina McDanal and extended rallies kept the crowd on edge. In the end, the Lady Cavaliers dug deep and pulled off a thrilling win, closing the set with a 25-16 victory.
“Our coach told us what we did right and wrong throughout the set, so leading into the next set, we felt confident that we could win the set and pretty much give us the win for the game,” junior Corina McDanal said.
As the afternoon progressed, the Lady Cavaliers’ offense played with power against the Bulldogs with precision with well-placed sets to incredibly powerful spikes from junior Bianca Benson, they left Braddock moving at all times trying to receive their spikes. With a second set score of 25-9, the Lady Cavalier’s asserted their dominance, showcasing the teamwork and aggression on the court that would lead to their win.
As the game entered the third set, the Bulldogs were bent on staging a comeback, but the Lady Cavaliers did not make it easy. The Bulldogs fought fiercely, diving for impossible saves and sending powerful spikes across the net, but Gables’ team met each challenge head-on. With pure consistency in their points and relentless offensive pressure, they executed sharp points and well-placed serves, keeping the Bulldogs scrambling. In the end, they won the final set comfortably, 25-16, securing their victory.
With their victory against Braddock, the Lady Cavaliers were able to continue their six-game-win streak. Remaining consistent with their training, they continue to pursue victory as they progress through the season. After this game, the team will have high expectations coming into their next game against Dr. Krop Senior High School, which will be on Sept. 9.
