Jorell Sakamoto
On Oct. 10, the Aragon girls volleyball team (6-3 overall, Peninsula Athletic League) defeated Hillsdale (1-8 overall, PAL) in three sets at home on their Dig Pink night.
Despite getting the first point of the match, Aragon struggled to keep up with the Knights at the beginning of the first set. Midway through the set, the Dons trailed 10-16 before accurate kills from junior Sophie Rubinstein helped bring Aragon back into the game. Hits from freshman Caitlyn Robertson and sophomore Gabriella Xiao, as well as blocks from junior Shannon Bullard, helped secure Aragon a close first set victory of 25-23.
“We definitely have to focus on starting the game off strong because it usually takes us a full set for us to settle in,” Xiao said after the game.
Aragon went down in the first minutes of the second set before quickly making a comeback. Once again, Rubinstein carried the team with kills while blocks from Bullard and senior Leah Nai, who has a total of thirty blocks this season, stopped Hillsdale’s hits from getting over the net. Despite strong balls from the Knights, the Dons’ back line, including senior libero Kathleen Suayan, kept the ball off the floor with their aggressive dives and digs. The Dons easily defeated Hillsdale in the second set, winning 25-12.
“In between sets I told the girls to come with a little bit more energy and be more focused and intentional on where they were hitting the ball,” head coach Annette Gennaro-Trimble said.
In the third set, Aragon went down 4-0 before coming back after a fast five-point streak. The score stayed close for the majority of the set before the Dons scored eight consecutive points. With a score of 23-17, Rubinstein finished the game with two kills and Aragon won the third and final set 25-17.
The win against Hillsdale was rewarding for the team.
“It felt really good to beat Hillsdale again because they are our rivals and we put in a lot of hard work to prepare us for the game,” Nai said after the game.
Players agreed that their teammates’ energy helped them stay focused throughout the match.
“We were all cheering for each other especially when we were doing really well during the game,” Bullard said. “I just love the sense of teamwork and the energy we have.”
Gennaro is very proud of the girls, especially their close relationship.
“We’re like a second family,” Gennaro said. “The girls are very supportive and dedicated to each other.”
Their next game is Oct. 19 against Sequoia at 5 p.m.
