Girls’ volleyball kicks off the season with a strong start

Last year, the girls’ volleyball team ended its season with a tough loss against Sacred Heart Cathedral at the quarterfinal CCS game, partly due to many of the players being sick.

This year, the team came back healthier, stronger and tougher. While all of the team’s preseason games are against upper league teams and the team is in the lower league, the girls won their first three games with ease.

Last year, the girls’ volleyball team ended its season with a tough loss against Sacred Heart Cathedral at the quarterfinal CCS game, partly due to many of the players being sick.

The team played its first game on Sept. 5 against King’s Academy and won 3-1. The girls continued on to defeat Willow Glen High School 3-0 on Sept. 10, and Leigh High School 3-0 on Sept. 11.

The team lost its winning streak Sept. 13 against Los Gatos High School. While they were defeated 0-3, the team led vs. the Wildcats in both the first and third games, but was not able to pull through due to breakdowns in passing.

Still, the girls had parts of the game where they were really connected as a team.

“It’s about those moments when I’m having fun and when we’re all playing so hard because nothing else matters but the game and your teammates around you,” senior outside hitter Julia Lee said.

The team’s first three straight wins of pre-season caught the attention of Cal-High Sports, a local high school sports television station, and a reporter came out Saratoga’s game against Notre Dame Belmont on Sept. 17. The team, however, lost 0-3.

The girls will face many more strong, upper league teams throughout pre-season and have high hopes for the season.

“The pre-season teams are pretty good matchups and as our team continues to bond I think out playing will improve,” senior defensive specialist Jennifer Ho said. “We also want to beat Cupertino this year and we’re looking forward to the Lynbrook game since they were moved back down to our league.”

Last year, the team was second in the league behind Cupertino High School.

“We’re going to have a great season and even though we just lost a couple of games, we can power through and beat some great teams,” said team captain Tivoli Sisco, a senior who plays libero.