The energy in the East Gym is high. Both teams have warmed up on the court and are off to the side, and loved ones from both teams sit in the bleachers waiting for the game to start.
“We knew that coming in Cary Grove was going to be on the easier side of things for us to compete with,” senior Georgia Watson said. “But we still come out to compete every time.”
The game starts with a powerful serve from the Huntley girls, which was received by a Cary Grove player who shanked the ball out of bounds, giving Huntley the first point on the board. Ten minutes into the first set, the score was 12-0 with Huntley playing great offense and defense, still keeping Cary Grove at zero.
About 20 minutes in, Cary Grove had scored some points, making the score 19-8. The energy from the Huntley players was upbeat and filled with excitement as players on the bench and the court supported each other after each play. The Huntley girls also maintained consistent communication, which Cary Grove seemed to lack.
“We were trying a new lineup, so I thought at first it was going to be chaotic, and we had to talk a lot, [but] it was completely different than what I thought,” sophomore Izzy Whitehouse said. “We did really well, and we communicated well as a team.”
The Huntley girls seemed to be in sync with each other while dominating their home court, getting kills and strong blocks left and right. The first set ends with a score of 25-9.
The second set begins, and Huntley continues to keep up their strong serves, blocking all hits from Cary Grove, making Huntley the first team to score again with a 7-0 lead.
The girls cheer each other on, and Huntley’s communication never stops. 20 minutes in, the score was 18-5. The Huntley girls were on fire and constantly supported one another throughout the entire game. Both teams had some good rallies, but they ultimately ended in Huntley’s favor. The game ends with a final score of 25- 8 with the Huntley girls varsity volleyball team the victor.
“We were prepared to come out and, you know, hopefully, play aggressive offensively,” coach Karen Naymola said. “And I thought we did a really good job serving tonight.”
