On Oct. 31, the Aragon girls volleyball team (10-4 overall, Peninsula Athletic League) defeated Ann Sobrato (7-5 overall, Blossom Valley Athletic League) in straight sets at home.
Both teams started off evenly, trading points between one another until the score reached 11 all. Then, with a block from senior middle hitter Leah Nai, the set reached a turning point at 12-11. With number 4 Are Makropoulos serving, Aragon won 8 points in row to reach 20-12, before conceding a point to Sobrato from a net cord. Sobrato managed to scrape back a few points, but with some good blocks from junior middle blocker Cassie McMillan and senior Leah Nai, Aragon kept its lead. The first set ended on a service fault from Sobrato, with the final score of 25-17.
“We were very nervous because this was our first game and CCs and our first set and CCS which means that it was much more official,” said McMillan. “We had actual control line refs and everything it was pay to enter but once we got going it was a lot easier to relax and get into the game.”
Aragon started set two in commanding fashion, with strong serving from senior Hunter Kwan and tight defense giving the dons an 11-2 lead. During the latter half of the set, junior Sophie Rubinstein set the tone with 3 aces as the dons reach a 23-8 lead.
“the second set was the highlight for me just because of the big lead,” said Rubinstein. “It was just like basically stress free.”
The dons closed out the second set comfortably with a score of 25-11 as Sobrato serves a fault on the set point for the second set in a row.
In the third set, the dons get a late start, going down 0-4 before finally winning their first point of the set.
“When we began warming up, we were a little bit scared of the middles because they were very powerful and very fast,” said McMillan after the game. “But Sobrato only started using them in the third set, so we got a little bit nervous because that meant the middle blockers had to stay in the middle, which meant that our defense had to be on point.”
After a few mistakes from Sobrato and a strategic tip from senior Hunter Kwan, the dons were back at 7-7 in the third set:
“We started tooling and tipping a lot more, hitting it off their hands just controlling our movements better,” Nai said after the game.
The teams traded points until the score reached 19-20, from which point Sobrato then pulled ahead to reach set point at 21-24.
“They had Game point and third set, and I was really stressed out,” said Rubinstein. “It took a lot of focus to catch back up.”
After senior Leah Nai saves a set point with a tip, Sobrato called a timeout. The dons carried their momentum, winning 4 points in a row with a couple of well-timed blocks to reach match point at 25-24. The teams went back and forth, and at 26-26, a powerful spike from Rubinstein gives the dons their second match point. After a closely contested rally, a missed spike from Sobrato ultimately ends the match, giving the dons their ticket to the CCS Semifinals.
The players reflect on their experience:
“I’m really excited just because for a lot of the team, and for me it was the first CCS game I’ve ever played,” said Rubinstein. “We just came in with a lot of energy.”
Nai, a veteran on the team, offered a different perspective:
“I’d say the game was pretty fun. I wouldn’t say it was that intense and we were more laid back.”
Regardless, both agree that the lively crowd and the charged atmosphere had a positive impact on their morale.
Another factor that contributed to the team’s success, however, was the closeness between the players:
“Volleyball is a very close knit game. You know, when you’re on the floor, you have to trust your teammates…it’s like a second family,” said coach Annette Gennaro. “In order to play well in volleyball, you need to trust each other.”
Mcmillan seconds Gennaro’s claim:
“A lot of us are definitely comfortable with each other and that means we can give advice and preferences. I think what’s really important is being able to correct each other because it’s at this level.”
Though there is still a long road ahead till victory at CCS, Gennaro demonstrates her trust in the abilities of the team:
“I’m confident Aragon’s a very good team… I have players that went to the finals last year, so they know what it takes to win. And I know if we just play the way that we know how to play, we should be in the finals.”
