Girls volleyball gets an exciting victory in CIF semifinals

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the stands of the North Gym were buzzing with excitement to watch the semi-final round of CIF for girls volleyball, in which Samo beat Crean Lutheran, 3-1.The girls knew that they were heading into a tough game and were prepared to push themselves to victory. As they walked onto the court, nerves were in the air. The moment that the ball flew up into the air for the first serve every spectator was holding their breath, rooting for the team to win. The first set was close and both teams were skilled. Very evenly matched, the leader on the scoreboard continued to switch between the teams. Eventually though, Samo pulled through and won the first set, 25-20. Varsity player Dylan Leight (’20) was proud of her team’s great start to the match.“We knew that the game was going to be a challenge, but we really pushed ourselves hard to win the first set. We all played strongly together, and it was great to see everyone working hard,” Leight said.Heading into the second set, the girls were more confident. They played with cohesion and great ability, but by the end of the set the scoreboard wasn’t in their favor. It was a close set, but Crean Lutheran narrowly beat the Samo team, 23-25.Refocused by their loss, the girls were ready to regain their competitive edge and come out victorious. They served hard and began to rack up the points as the third set progressed, pushing themselves for the win. The crowd was on their feet, cheering and chanting to support the girls. As the third set came to an end, Samo had stolen a second win, 25-23. Varsity player Channing Baker (’20) was proud of the team’s performance and was confident that they could win the last set.“We played really well together and I’m proud of the way we performed. I know that we have the skill to win the entire match,” Baker said.Heading into their fourth set, the team was thirsty for victory. With focus and determination they were able to play with great skill and regain their original confidence. The spectators roared in support and hopped on their feet. The score was close and the crowd was nervous, but by the end of the fourth set Samo had won their third set, 25-23, which meant they had won the entire game. Varsity player Annalise Wille (’20) was ecstatic with the team’s win and happy with the way they performed. “Our team dynamic was great, and we played super well the entire match. As we go to finals I know that we have a chance to win overall,” Wille said. The team will celebrate their win as they prepare for CIF finals against Culver City later in the week.