Girls’ Volleyball struggles in tough Gabilan Division

Team+captain+Larissa+Vasquez+blocks+Notre+Dame%E2%80%99s+attempt+at+scoring+a+point.+The+Trojans+fell+to+the+Spirits+0-3+in+both+matchups+this+year.

Analicia Sandoval

Team captain Larissa Vasquez blocks Notre Dame’s attempt at scoring a point. The Trojans fell to the Spirits 0-3 in both matchups this year.

The girls’ volleyball team struggled in their first full season in the Gabilan Division, but earned a playoff berth by defeating Gonzales in a play-in game. Although they lost to Cupertino in the first round of CCS, they were hoping for more this year. 

Replacing Coach Jose Ramos is last year’s JV coach, Cynthia Huerta. “Taking over as the new varsity coach, I came knowing most of the girls I’ve watched how they’ve played, I knew they’d feel comfortable knowing a bit of how I taught.”  Huerta is an Alisal grad who was a four year player. “My senior year I kind of went through the same situation as the girls did,” Huerta said. “We got a new varsity coach and I remember what that was like… I just remember what it felt like not knowing how your year was going to go.”

Huerta had three returners:  Daniela Reyes (middle/outside hitter), Gisselle Zamora (libero), and Larissa Vasquez (middle/all around). Joining them were seniors Giselle Godoy(setter), Janett Sanchez(right side/outside), Yuritza Ortega (setter), and Miah Santiago (back row/libero); juniors Ximena Estrada (back row), Ashley Rodriguez(middle), Sarahi Angeles(back row), Nicole Arreguim-Yanez (right side); and sophomore Brandee Garcia (back row).  

Sanchez wasn’t too fazed about having a new coach. “I wondered if my senior experience would still be the same considering having a new coach being used to our old one,”she said. Team Captain Gisselle Zamora  believes that every coach is different. “The way that our coaches came into the team was different in a way, but it was good we learned to adjust to each other,” she said. 

Despite a 4-1 start in preseason, the team has struggled in league with a 2-8 record through their first 10 games. Huerta definitely thinks it could have gone better. “So far I think we have a great team and I definitely think we can beat some of the teams that we’ve lost to,” she said.”It’s kinda hard when you’re so used to a certain coach and trying to get adjusted to another coach, but I think the girls are doing a pretty great job.”  Senior captain Larissa Vasquez believes that it’s not all about winning. “To me right now it’s about having fun and just enjoying my last year,”she said. “”Enjoying the moments, the memories, and especially the bonds that I have with the girls. It’s something that I will cherish forever.”

For the last games Huerta would like to achieve a few things. “I’d like to see more communication within the girls themselves,” she said. Team captain Giselle Zamora would like to simply finish her year with the girls. “I want to see what we could do within the games we have left and just enjoy what’s left of my senior year.”