On Aug. 12, the Antioch Community High School varsity volleyball team advanced their record to 3-0 in the conference in a tough battle against the Wauconda Bulldogs. The Sequoits managed to pull out the win in three sets.
The Sequoits started off strong in their first set. Junior Mikayla Haskell immediately kickstarted the team’s momentum, scoring the first point with a block after Senior Ryen Lyndon’s serve. Senior Kaylianna Losinger sealed the win for her team in the first set with an ace. The ending score was 25-18, with the Sequoits managing to maintain the lead throughout the entirety of the first set.
Serving struggles and low energy cost the Sequoits a tough loss in the second set, but they regrouped and came out determined for the win in the third set. The score continuously went back and forth until Losinger went on a four serve lead, advancing the score to 8-3. The Sequoits held on to the lead for the rest of the set. Senior Emma Crow had an amazing three blocks in a row, bringing the score to 15-9 and helping the team become more energetic. Sophomore Nora Ultsch finished the set off with a kill, bringing her team to a 25-13 victory.
¨We were scrappy,” Junior Mia Alanis said. “Whenever someone was down we all came together and helped each other up and we got a lot of energy which is good for us.” The Sequoits proved that energy is important. When their energy decreased in the second set, they made the adjustment and left it all out there for the third. This adjustment was crucial to pull off the victory.
Alanis was very helpful to the team win, especially with her 4 point serving streak in the third set.
“Our team did really well even though we had to go to three sets,” Mickey Paulino said. “The second one was okay, but the first to the third, that is the most energy we have ever had.”
Paulino had to step up due to missing players, and her team’s energy was extremely helpful to her confidence and play. If the team can continue the season along with this energy, the sky is the limit of the Sequoits varsity girls volleyball team.
