The Terry Stogner Gymnasium was quiet this week as there were no games scheduled for the Carlmont varsity volleyball team due to the postponing of the notorious Battle of Belmont. Although this could be considered a minor set-back, this year’s 2012 team is hard at work and ready to play when the time comes.

Carlmont volleyball starts league play next week, which will entail two games per week, varsity Head Coach Chris Crader commented, “It’s a bummer, once we start playing two games per week it will be hard to fit another one in. But no team has an advantage, the extra time will just result in a higher quality match.”

The Battle of Belmont match will be played against Carlmont’s crosstown-rivals, Notre Dame High School.

“Sometimes it’s better to beat our friends than it is to beat our enemies. It’s important to play well against our friends. I knew the importance of this match my first year coaching at Carlmont,” added Crader.

Last year, both of Carlmont’s volleyball teams were successful at the Battle, and hope to do the same this year.

“Last year went very well, but we lost a lot to graduation. This year, the girls are working hard but we haven’t gotten the ball rolling yet and we are hoping to raise the level of play for future matches to come,” said Crader.

Varsity lost two out of three sets to Notre Dame in this year’s tournament in Milpitas, but are hoping to pull through when it comes time to play in front off their peers and family.

This weekend Varsity, heads to Santa Cruz High School for another tournament.

“I hope that we play the best we’ve played all year and be consistent from point to point. It’s very important that we move forward and show improvement. The girls are really working hard and it will eventually pay off. We’re going to show what we can do and really get ready to start league,” stated Crader.