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Covid-19 and a New School Year

Lady Cardinals ended this volleyball season strong. Not only did our volleyball girls have a vigorous team, they underwent some new regulations due to Covid-19 and the beginning of a new school year starting up. 

Our Varsity, JV, and Freshman team faced many obstacles. Our athletes had to wear a mask during their games and they weren’t allowed to switch sides after every match. Being in a mask affected some of our players because they constantly had to adjust it over their face.

“Not many of us thought there would be a season because of Covid-19 nor would there be many girls due to the lack of attention volleyball had. But it all came to a surprise when we had over 40 girls willing to play. It was a great experience and we had a hard working team,” said senior Elayna Arzuaga, a Varsity defense specialist and middle blocker.

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Practice and Games

Many of our girls have been practicing since last summer. We had very few girls but they all worked hard and played hard. During practice, most of the girls discovered what position they worked best in or what skills they needed to improve on.

Each game the volleyball team had was a new encounter. The games were new ways for our girls to learn what they needed to work on and improve on the team, such as passing, playing defense, blocking and communicating.

Multiple athletes on our JV and Varsity teams were newcomers. Some would refer to volleyball as a different game, a mental concept or a visual playdown.

Volleyball is defined as a game for two teams in which a ball is hit by hand over a high net. Not only does volleyball get you physically active, but it’s a mental challenge as well. The mental challenge is to focus one’s attention on the most important things and “let go” of mistakes quickly and efficiently. 

“Volleyball is just a more intense version of: Don’t let the balloon hit the floor,” said senior Jaqueline Enriquez, a Varsity defense specialist. 

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The End of Season

Every team wins and loses. While Varsity had a league record of 2-8, the most important factor of this team was working together. 

Overall, these ladies all had one thing in common: their passion for volleyball. Each and everyone of our volleyball girls had drive and motivation. No matter what, through thick and thin, they came together as a team. Every single player showed they were there to lend a hand, have an ear out for you, or to even have a shoulder to cry on. 

“Every team has ups and downs but it takes a good bond and relationship to work together,” said junior Ziclaly Belmont, the JV co-captain, setter and defense specialist. 

Everyone has their own definition of a team but overall it has the same outcome; a group of people coming together to achieve a common goal.

“Don’t aspire to be the best on the team, aspire to be the best for the team,” said senior Itzel Aguilar, co-captain, defense specialist and outside hitter.