Girl’s Volleyball team’s CCS run cut short
With their skills, spirit and optimistic attitude, the varsity volleyball team has what it takes to go all the way. “I kinda knew all along we could make it to CCS…but nothing’s guaranteed,” says head coach Annette Gennaro. “We have … losses … [though] we are still ahead of where we were last year.”
After a successful season, the team finished in third place with a 26-8 record. Sophomore passer Vienna Auerweck says, “We really want to win. We say it when we get down: ‘we really want to win.’”
Despite the successful season they’ve been having, the team has major competition to beat. “Menlo-Atherton is always the team to beat,” adds Auerweck.
“Carlmont [has] a good team … I think we’re [level with] them skill-wise, but we made mistakes [during the games] which is unfortunate. I think we’re there skill-wise [with MA] too, but they just came out on top,” adds senior Jamie Moore.
The team’s camaraderie is an integral asset to their successes on court. “There’s very good chemistry,” explains Gennaro. “The … senior[s] work really well on chemistry with [everyone having] secret sisters before every game. They are all instrumental … [The seniors’] leadership on the floor and off the floor is crucial to how we play.”
“[Secret Sisters] is kind of a tradition. We write a note and bring food every time we have a game,” explains Moore.
Speaking about the leadership within the team, Auerweck comments, “Our team captains Jamie Moore, Steffi Miller, and Ariel Mangum are really welcoming no matter who you are. [They] have indescribable energy on how much they want to win and [how much they] believe in us.”
Moore adds, “What I like about being a team captain is motivating the girls. [We] can control whether or not we’re being positive [and] whether or not the girls are having fun. [We] get to settle a lot of the activities for team bonding, which is really fun. [Being a captain] is democratic, but there’s also a leadership aspect.
“We [all] spend a lot of time together. We goof around at practice sometimes, which helps with the bonding. We make t-shirts and we hang out … outside of school.”
“No significant injuries this year,” says Gennaro while knocking on wood. With a safe season without any obstacles, the team focuses on their strengths and works to improve their weaknesses. “Our strengths are our seniors: really good setter, outside hitters and libero. Our weakness is our [lack of] energy. We need to have more energy throughout entire matches. They do really well at the start, but then we lose our energy,” she adds.
“We always have a talk before games. Coach reads us a quote or we do a dance to warm up: something to get our blood going. It’s about the mindset, we need to go in thinking positive,” adds Moore.
Unfortunately, the girls volleyball team’s CCS run was cut short after a devastating game versus Lynbrook. The team lost their three sets 25-22, 25-20 and 25-22 respectively.
“We went into it thinking it was easier than it was and didn’t play it our full potential,” said Moore with respect to the Lynbrook game.
Junior Elizabeth McSheery agreed saying, “When we finally got warmed up, it was too late.”
Regardless, the Aragon girls had a fruitful season and look forward to next year.
