On Oct. 29, the Aragon girls volleyball team (17-16 overall) celebrated their senior night after losing in straight sets to the Menlo-Atherton Bears (23-7 overall) in a Bay Division Peninsula Athletic League match.
The score didn’t reflect the competitive nature of the match, but the night was ultimately a celebration of the senior players and their contributions to the team.
The gym was filled with supporters, including family, friends and members of the JV team, all there to commemorate the seniors.
Head coach Annette Gennaro expressed the importance of recognizing the hard work and dedication of the graduating players.
“[It’s essential] … to celebrate our seniors who have invested so much time and effort into this program,” said Gennaro. “They’ve set an example for the younger players and helped lead our team this season.”
From the outset, the game was close between the two teams, with the Dons briefly overcoming Menlo’s consistent lead in the third set.
The result of the match was 0-3, with the Bears winning by seven, six and nine in the first, second and third sets respectively.
As the final whistle blew, the focus shifted from the score to the celebration of the seniors. The night concluded with a heartfelt ceremony, where each senior was honored with a sign and a small gift from the team.
Despite the loss, senior Sophie Rubinstein reflected on the significance of the night.
“Even though it was our last league game,” Rubinstein said. “It felt really good to have this much support from the crowd … It makes me emotional [and] just really happy.”
There were five seniors on the team this year: Shannon Bullard, Sophie Rubinstein, Andrea Kunkel, Natalie Huang and Cassandra Mcmillan.
This celebration was bittersweet as underclassmen reflected on the seniors leaving.
“It’s definitely sad, and I’m going to miss them on the court just because they’re such a big part of the program,” said sophomore Caitlyn Robertson. “We really wanted to celebrate them and make this night special for our seniors.”
Junior Gabriella Xiao echoed these feelings, reflecting on her experiences with the seniors this season.
“We wanted to win because it was senior night,” Xiao said. “They contribute a lot to the team, so I’m definitely going to miss them.”
Players commented on the impact the seniors have had on the team, as well as key leadership roles they have played.
“They’re really fun to be around,” Robertson said. “And even more than that, they’ve taught me to keep my composure and fight through tough situations.”
Rubinstein noted some important lessons for players just entering the program.
“Cherish your time here … and play your heart out, because it goes by in a flash,” Robertson said. “Be grateful for your coaches, like Gennaro, Deane, Christy and Wu, because they really care about this program and the players in it.”
Aside from leadership roles and practical skills, this group of seniors have grown stronger in character over their four years at Aragon.
“They’ve truly learned those extra qualities [like] dedication, leadership, supporting your teammates,” Gennaro said. “I am proud of the skills they’ve learned on and off the court, and how they’ve developed throughout the program.”
The Dons will now enter the Central Coast Section playoffs, playing their first game on Nov. 5 against Willow Glen.
