Story by: Zoe Chen
Staff Writer
Photo by: Shin-Hye (Rachel) Choi
Staff Photographer
Girls volleyball went head-to-head with the Buckley Griffins in the senior night match, the last home game of the season, on Friday, Oct. 6. Prior to the game, graduating seniors on the team were introduced and recognized for their achievements, getting awarded gift baskets in the process. The Tigers dominated the match itself, never allowing the Griffins a single lead. The match was quickly won by the Tigers in the third set.
“This game, I think it was definitely that energy, it was senior night so that’s a big game, and [we] had a big crowd, so I think we all kind of fed off of that for a really good game,” senior libero Mia Ramos said. “I’ve spent the last four years with my best friends so it’s been so much fun.”
Five serves by senior outside hitter Jenna Garner and a kill by senior opposite hitter Ingrid Zahn brought the Tigers’ score to 7-1, prompting the Griffins to call an early time out. Another kill by Zahn followed by a kill from senior outside hitter Helena Foord put the score at 12-4, and a tip by sophomore middle hitter Senya Dorny gained the Tigers another point. South Pasadena kept up their strong offense for the remainder of the set, and the score was raised to 20-7 when Garner tipped the ball over to Buckley. The set concluded quickly after that, with a serve by Garner gaining the Tigers the last point they needed and winning the Tigers the set 25-9.
A long rally in the start of the second set ended in the Tigers’ favor when a kill by Zahn went down on the Griffin court. An ace by Ramos brought the score to 6-3, and a serve by Foord gained another point for the Tigers, 10-6. The Tigers maintained their lead over Buckley, and an excellent kill by Garner raised the score to 19-15. The Griffins called a time out as the Tigers neared 25, but with a comfortable lead, the Tigers were able to win the set 25-18.
The Tigers began their third set full of energy. A kill by senior middle blocker Maggie Hunter gave the Tigers an early advantage, 4-2. A save by Garner and a serve by Zahn pushed the score up to 10-5, causing the Griffins to call yet another time out. A bump over the net by senior setter Jolene Wu caught Buckley by surprise, bringing the score to 12-6, and a save by senior setter Kendall Taylor neared the Tigers to 25. Sensing a loss, the Griffins’ confidence wavered, and they began hitting out numerous serves and spikes. With a final serve by Zahn, the Tigers won the set 25-14 and the match 3-1.
“It’s bittersweet,” Foord said about being a graduating senior. “I’m really sad to be leaving everybody behind, but at the same time, I’m taking all of the lessons I’ve learned…we’ve worked really hard all season to be close as a team, both on the court and off the court. I think we did really well, we ended up sweeping them.”
