This weekend, Carlmont’s varsity volleyball team played a very intense first round game of the Central Coast Section playoffs, but unfortunately lost to the number four seed, the Homestead High School Mustangs. This heartbreaking loss ended the Scots’ 2012 season.

Carlmont and Homestead seemed to be two very evenly matched teams throughout the course of the match. But, Homestead had the home-field advantage and seemed to take advantage of the Scots first playoff game jitters.

Freshman Elena Mateus commented, “I think that everyone was nervous because we knew that if we lost, it would be our last game. It was like we had to win, there was no other option.”

Carlmont fell behind in the first set 12-20, but then went on a 7-1 rally, making the score 19-21. Even though the Scots closed the gap, they were unable to pull through and the final score was 22-25. The second set seemed to be just as tight as the first and the countless number of long rallies made it even harder to watch. But once again, Homestead pulled ahead and secured 15-25.

Mateus said, “When a game is so close like that, we just get more excited and more on our toes.”

Carlmont knew they had to win the next set to stay alive or the season would be over. They had a promising start, but soon fell behind again. However, they came back to make the score 24-22.

Homestead ‘s hitters responded almost immediately and continued to put away balls that Carlmont was just not able to pick up. When Homestead’s stellar outside hitter put away the last ball, which made it 26-24, the look of defeat was impossible to ignore.

Mateus said, “I kind of put the last point on myself. I should have blocked that hit. I thought I had one more point after that, but then I looked at the score. But it was a good way to end the game. They got a kill, not a cheap shot.”

Even though Carlmont had an upsetting end to their season, they will still be remembered for the great things they did, including winning the Battle of Belmont the second year in a row, taking Menlo Atherton to five sets, and finishing in the top three in the Peninsula Athletic League.

Mateus said, “We had a really great season. April Smith, our defensive specialist, said, ‘When people look back on our season, we’ll be remembered for the good, not the bad.’ Our team had the best coaching ever and that’s why we were so good”

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