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By Natalie Luu
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Oct. 1, 2009 |
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Unlucky number 13; even Funston Street could not bear this
number. But the girls’ varsity volleyball team triumphed over that
accursed number, having won 13 consecutive city-championships.
The team hopes that this year may take them further than the first round in NorCal, a stage they have yet to pass.
In a rumbling St. Ignatius gym on Sept. 9, the Cardinals faced off with the Wildcats in what might be their most challenging game of the year. The Cardinals were trounced 0-3, but the game was not an easy win for the Wildcats, according to senior right side hitter Allison Wasserman. “Each point earned was a rally,” she said. “The score didn’t really reflect the quality of the game.”
The Cardinals saw playing the Wildcats as a great learning experience because of St. Ignatius’ aggressively styled play. “It made us see some of our weaknesses,” senior captain Jessica Peng said. “We agreed that we need to play better as a team and be more confident.”
On Sept. 3, the Cardinals faced off against the San Mateo Bearcats in their first preseason game. Though it was only a scrimmage, the Cardinals found it challenging. “There were some tall hitters we had to work around,” senior outside hitter Vanessa Kung said. “We were going back and forth with them.”
This year, the Cardinals are making team chemistry their top priority. The team faces a slight deficit in experience after losing several valuable players who graduated last year, according to Peng. “Even though we can improve on everything, we want to focus on communication,” she said. Wasserman agrees with Peng’s observation. “Cohesiveness as a team is crucial, and we’ve got a few holes.”
Not to worry, the girls’ determination and their new coach, Lauren Jackson, make the perfect ingredients for a daunting team this season. “Coach Jackson is from Texas, where sports are really competitive,” Wasserman said. “She knows a lot about volleyball, and she’s working us really hard to become a better team.”
With the help of Jackson and the girls’ determination to work together, the Cardinals anticipate to snatch a 14th consecutive AAA title and hope to overcome the obstacle of the first round in NorCal. “For now, we need to keep our eyes on the prize,” Wasserman said, “We can worry about NorCal then.”
Come watch the girls at 5:45 p.m. on Sept. 30 at Menlo-Atherton High and see the Cardinals battle the Bears in their final preseason game.
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