Week #4: Exciting Rallies Highlight JV/V Double Header at Regents

Dave Levy, Athletic Director
JV Girls Volleyball - Her first serve hit the opposing libero so hard that the ball was deflected all the way into the back of the gym. Striking fear into the opponent, Emory changed the game tonight. In the first set, she ran off a sequence of three aces. In the second set, the team scored ten points in a row with Emory at the line - seven aces - and three incredible rallies. So when she took the ball behind the line in the third set, the opponent knew there was nothing they could do. Regents had already called both timeouts, which had no impact on Emory whatsoever. She had four huge serves in the final set, creating the key difference between the two teams, and had the game-winning dig off a big Regents hit - finding a perfect spot between the defense. As Lisa said, "this is truly the Emory era!" 
 
Zuri and Hadley held a block party this afternoon - both meeting their opponent at the net, and returning the ball back to sender! Rising to the occasion, Zuri had a key block in the third set. It was 3-3, and Regents would take the lead a moment later, before Hadley had a block on the next point! The third set, just like the first two, went back and forth with the game on the line.
Regents led 11-9 when Zoey set Zuri on the left side of the court. With a massive hit, she cut the lead in half. Then it was time for Emory's serve - three straight aces - and Tandem took that lead right back 12-11. Moments later, Hadley found a perfect spot on a free ball, setting Tandem up for that critical 13th point. 
 
The Badgers closed out the match with an excellent set from Maeve - Zuri wound up and smashed that ball into the back corner. With the team ahead 14-12, and an exciting rally going back and forth, Emory had her beautiful aforementioned dig, and the JV Badgers won their first match of the season!
 
The JV Badgers impressed the beginning - with Zuri setting Marilyn for a big hit - earning Tandem's first point of the day. The serving in the first set was excellent - Zuri had a perfectly placed ace. Nieve, who has improved dramatically from last season, had a slew of aces (twice), dropping the ball just barely over the net. The team led 6-4 early, and kept the momentum going when Oliver passed the ball to Maeve who set Marilyn for another big hit. Regents would rally, eventually taking the opening set 25-21.
 
In the second set, we were living in Emory's era and she gave us quite a tour. For those keeping track at home, Emory ran off 10 consecutive points. Some came off of aces, the kind that the opponent managed, at best, to deflect into the crowd. Others were part of exciting rallies, highlighted by big hits from Zuri and Hadley. Emory earned a standing ovation - and Tandem a 10-0 lead. Sam was particularly strong in the second set as well - Zoey set her on the left side and she let it fly! Down the stretch Sam had a kill with some serious power - smashed all the way to the back line - and Tandem led 16-13. Later in the set, Sam had a sequence of big serves, and Elle had a critical three ball kill, and Tandem took a 20-14 lead. The final rally featured Makayah diving everywhere, pulling out dig after dig in her new libero jersey, while Elle got the big hit - giving Tandem the 25-21 second set victory!
 
Congratulations to the JV Badgers on a big time victory! The Tandem section was packed - thank you to everybody for coming out to support! 
 
Varsity Girls Volleyball - While the extraordinary heat kept the Badgers out of the gym for much of the week, it did not stop Sophie from working on her game. "If we can't be in the gym, I'm just going to go home and play in my backyard," she shared earlier this week. Her hard work paid off. Sophie is, to quote Sarah, "always there when you need her." Regents had some strong hitters - and were certain they had scored - but Sophie was there - again and again - with unbelievable defensive effort and technique, digging out pancakes like it was Friday morning on the quad.
 
The Badgers scored the first three points of the match - and Aoife was a big part of that success. Emory set her for a massive hit in the middle, and then Aoife blocked Regents big hitter moments later. The Badgers kept it close throughout the first set - it was 6-6 when Maya dug out a ball that was redirected after hitting the ceiling and she managed to pass it to Zella who had a free ball kill. 
 
With the score tied at 12, Sophie had four digs in the same rally - each time getting up and diving again - completely fearless against powerful hits.  She made a pancake save, and put some syrup on it as she passed to Emory, who dumped it over the net.
 
With extensive power and placement, Aoife had three serves in a row to give Tandem an 18-15 lead. Regents called timeout and Aoife didn't care - another ace gave Tandem a 19-15 lead.
 
Regents would rally to tie the game before Emory set Althea for an epic hit - slithering right between the outstretched arms of two tall hitters on the other side! Althea's play drew ooh's and ah's from the crowd, with whispers of "did you see that?!" Late in the set, Emory found Sophie for an incredible hit, and Tandem took a 22-19 lead. The Badgers would eventually drop the first set 25-23.
 
Well placed and powerful, Claire had an early ace in the second set. Between her effort and the play of Ella - who had a couple of fierce hits in the middle - the Badgers took an early 7-6 lead. The team would extend it when Zella dove for an incredible dig, passing the ball to Emory who set Maya for a hit to a perfect spot in the back corner. The Badgers led 10-8.
 
Regents would rally, taking a 12-11 lead, before Emory dumped the ball on two - a surprise move! The Badgers continued to build momentum, and took it with them to the third set, after Regents took a 2-0 lead 25-16.
 
With their backs against the wall, Tandem continued to compete! Aoife was excellent on both sides of the ball - hitting from behind the ball and blocking the opposing hitters. Like the first two, the third set was close, and Ella's smooth free ball cut the Regents lead to 1, 8-7. The Badgers would take the lead on another Aoife block - and then it was Maya's turn in the rotation.
 
Maya had two aces in a row, attacking the back-line, and Tandem began to gain momentum! Regents called a timeout with the score tied at 14 and Sophie would put together a strong sequence - first she reared back and produced a huge hit that left a mark on the floor. Sophie followed that up with a big serve, and the Badgers took a 19-18 lead. Ella kept the momentum going - she had two hits that found their spot in the middle, and Emory dumped the ball over again on 2! The Badgers took a 21-18 lead and Regents called their second timeout.
 
Regents drew up a play for their strongest hitter, but Sophie was there, as she had been all night. Yet another dive led to an incredible pancake save, and Emory hit the ball hard - giving Tandem a 22-20 lead that they would not give up. The set ended with an exciting rally, and the Badgers cut the lead in half, winning the third set 25-22!
 
The fourth set was close as well - the Badgers were down 10-4, battled all the way back, and pushed Regents to the brink, 25-20. Congratulations to Tandem on an excellent effort during a tough week without much practice!
Back
Tandem Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for grades 5-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
Copyright 2016 Tandem Friends School