Maria Carolina Martins
With the new school year comes new challenges, new adventures, new people (except for seniors), new friends, new teachers and…. SPORTS SEASON!! This is an exciting year for both our varsity and junior varsity girl’s volleyball teams, as many new people have joined the teams, the game schedule is incredibly packed and exciting things are to come. This is the last volleyball season of many of the players’ school careers, some of which have been on the team for the whole four years of high school. Last year, our team consisted mostly of juniors, while other schools had many seniors, whose experience strengthened their teams. However, with our current team composed mostly of seniors, things are looking up for our varsity team. The two wins that took place at the start of the season is a testament to this newly gained advantage.
Team Overview
This year, the varsity team has a new coach: Ms. Kitaoka. The team captains are Sarah (Grade 12) and Alana (Grade 12). The rest of the team remained pretty much the same as last year, as there was only one senior who had graduated. Some previously junior varsity players have also joined the varsity team for this season.
Start of the Season
Season kicked off on the 29th of August, with the first three training sessions being dedicated to tryouts for both the player and the coaches in order to determine players and starters in JV and Varsity. Both teams have had a total of seven matches, three away and two home games. The first win for both teams was against CAJ, 2-1 for JV and 3-1 for varsity. Since then, both teams have had one more win against ISSH, and very close calls in all other games. With a strong start and a huge desire to represent our school, our teams are gearing up for a promising season ahead.
More News
Another exciting thing happening this season is the concession stands organized by both STUCO, to raise money for future school related events and the volleyball moms, raising money for new volleyball uniforms that will be used by our current team, but are also intended to be used by the future generations of the varsity team. Various snacks and drinks are available every home game and if you can, go support both of the causes!
What is to Come
After the brilliant start our girls had for this season, much more awaits to be conquered by the teams. The varsity team captains were interviewed and asked about their feelings regarding the first wins and also what they expect for this year’s season. When asked about how they felt after the first game and hopes for the season, they mentioned that it felt amazing and really rewarding, explaining: “Obviously, we now have a lot of things that we need to work on, but it was also a place to see all of our strengths.” They also mentioned that a goal for the team is to win against WJAA! You can see the complete interview in the new CNN episode, which will come out on Youtube later this month.
Game Schedules
It is very important for the team that students and faculty members go and support them, especially in home games. If you have the possibility to, go and cheer for both our Varsity and JV teams whenever you can. If you have any questions you can also approach any team members or coaches and ask more about future games. Wherever you go, remember that it is also important to cheer and celebrate our players; it can truly influence the way our team feels and plays when we feel supported by our community.
This volleyball season is off to an exciting start with two impressive wins, a strong team of mostly seniors, and new additions, including Coach Ms. Kitaoka. The concession stands, organized by STUCO and the volleyball moms, are an opportunity for you to help our community, supporting both our school’s future events and the next generation of varsity players with new uniforms. It is very important for everyone that can, to attend the games, particularly the home matches, to show our Cougar pride and bolster the team’s spirit. This season is packed with news, action, and opportunities for community involvement, making it a must-see event. Go and show our teams some Cougar Pride!
Maria Carolina Martins