Challenge Accepted: Volleyball Badgers Open Their Season on the Road at Monticello

Girls Varsity Volleyball
 
Every time we walk across the street to compete against Monticello High School, people ask the following questions:
 
1."Wait, isn't Monticello a public school?" Yes, in fact they are.
2. "Isn't their student body much bigger than Tandem's?" Yes, they have 1,185 students enrolled - more than 11 times larger than our upper school.
3. "Are you sure you can compete with them? Shouldn't we just play schools our own size?"
 
I was reflecting on that third question during the second set this afternoon. The Badgers trailed early, 6-5, before Maya had a sequence of perfectly placed hits right into an empty spot in the back corner. Between the power and the precision, well, those balls easily could have caused an earthquake. The team trailed 10-8 when Emory extended her arms for a block - taking in all of the force from a powerful hit, containing it, and returning it, skillfully, to the opposing middle hitter. Zella followed that up with an ace on a snazzy jump serve, and then Confident Claire dove to dig out a pancake - sending the ball to Aoife who redirected it right behind Monticello's front line. Claire also had several aces in the third set!
 
The Badgers took the lead, 11-10, when Aoife dove to her left, got a hand on the ball, and somehow sent it over to Maya who snapped her wrist and delivered a vicious hit at the opposing libero, who wanted nothing to do with all that force. Who could blame her? I speak for most folks - we would have ducked and covered our faces. Monticello would respond, eventually scoring five straight to go up 15-11.  
Tandem's massive student section responded - with more spirited Badger fans than the Mustangs across the way! After a lengthy and impressive rally, Aoife had a big time block and a kill moments later. Maya had a perfect pass to Emory, who returned the ball Maya for a big time hit - which, as usual, was impossible to return. The Badgers, after Althea's excellent serves and two consecutive blocks from Aoife, rallied to tie the score at 17.
 
Sophie was relentless today - a lateral movement superhero, she dove everywhere in the back row and also had a block at the net (it sure feels like Sophie is at least 6' tall when she's playing volleyball) - giving Tandem a 19-18 lead. Moments later, Emory set Ella - trying her hand at middle hitter! Ella perfectly placed a ball right behind Monticello's front line for a key point! The Badgers led 23-21, and while the second set got away from them, the team played at an elite level.
 
Tandem convincingly answered that third question. The team forced Monticello to a 26-24 second set, and kept the match close throughout. We're only a few weeks into the season, and the team has already accomplished so much. Our Varsity Badgers finished as the runner-up this past weekend at the Mount Carmel Christian Academy Tip-Off Tournament, in which Maya was named tournament MVP!!!! (Massive thanks to Todd for driving and spending the whole day with the team!) 
 
Tandem was not even remotely intimidated on Saturday - or today - and answered question #3 with ease! And they play with such joy!
 
JV Girls Volleyball
 
The beginning of volleyball season is often about communication, positioning and learning the strengths of your teammates. In their first game on the road, the JV Girls Volleyball team were in tune with their teammates, working closely together, already in mid-season form. Makayah was incredible defensively, neutralizing a number of powerful serves from the opponent! With precision, she passed the ball to Chloe, who found Oliver for a big hit! The Badgers right in the first set down 7-4.
 
Emory, who has improved her serve dramatically, launched an ace - which took approximately two seconds to find the floor on the other side of the net. After Monticello scrambled to return the next serve, Sam passed the ball smoothly to Maeve, who set up Elle for a kill at the net. The Badgers continued to cut into the lead, getting low, diving, and showing off excellent defensive positioning and effort. Maeve redirected a lot of those digs, pushing them back over the net!
 
After mustering only six points in the first set a season ago, Tandem scored double digits! Picking up where they left off, Emory opened the second set with back to back aces - giving Tandem a 3-1 lead. Keeping the team in the driver's seat, Zoey set up Nieve for a massive hit on the left side of the floor. If you look carefully, there is still a mark - commemorating Nieve's powerful smash! Tandem took the lead 7-4! Later in the set, Hadley fearlessly dove to the floor! She had consecutive digs on the same rally - with Marilyn getting a second touch and keeping the ball alive! The sequence was capped off by a big hit from Zuri - who had a great game! She fired the ball into the back row - resulting in another double digit set for Tandem on the road at Monticello.
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Tandem Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for grades 5-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
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