The Dons defeated the Panthers in three matches.
The girls volleyball team (9-1 Peninsula Athletic League, 17-5 overall) swiftly defeated Burlingame (6-5 PAL, 10-14 overall) in three sets with many strong buildups and executions from the Dons.
The game was intense, with the Dons defense saving hits by Burlingame as well as scoring 11 kills against them in the first set. The Dons had a huge advantage at the start, with sophomore opposite hitter Ella Sears leading with an 11 point serving streak.
However, the Panthers created a lot of back and forth in the second set and issues were seen offensively when Burlingame continued a seven point serving streak.
“One of the issues of that game was that we stepped off the gas pedal a bit and let Burlingame earn more points than they should have,” said freshman defensive specialist and setter Gabriella Oaks.
On top of not always bringing full pressure, junior middle blocker Lola Folau also believes the Dons have other aspects of their game to improve on.
“We can definitely improve on small things like making all our serves and hits,” Folau said.
Despite those mistakes, by the third set, the Dons were able to fight back with increased hitting accuracy, new substitutions, and more aces and kills. They won the last set easily, putting up 25 points to Burlingame’s 14.
Teamwork and friendship are characteristics displayed by the Dons. After each timeout, the girls all shouted in unison “together” and lifted up the spirits of their teammates.
The Dons also played Menlo-Atherton (10-1 PAL, 20-4 overall) on Oct. 11, with both teams going into the match with 9-1 league records. Menlo-Atherton defeated Aragon in three sets.
After losing on Oct. 11, the Dons played in a weekend tournament, winning three out of the four matches. The tournament was neutral to their record and ranking, meaning that the Dons wins and losses were not recorded as a part of their PAL record. The Dons are next set to face San Mateo (1-10 PAL, 5-13 overall) on Oct. 16 in an away game.
