Junior Evelyn Welton reaches for the ball.
Scots clip the Ravens’ wings in rivalry win
Carlmont varsity girls volleyball flocked into the win column Thursday in a sweep of three sets against a crosstown rival, Sequoia Ravens, backed with relentless energy and a strong defense.
The game against Sequoia only continues the increasingly one-sided rivalry between the two schools, as according to MaxPreps, the Scots have not lost a matchup against the Ravens since 2014.
“I know there is a kind of rivalry between both schools so I’m glad that people are happy and passionate about the results,” said Grace Smirnoff, Carlmont’s head coach.
Although the final score may not reflect it, all three sets were played neck to neck, with final scores of 25-23, 25-23, and 25-21 respectively.
The second set in particular was incredibly action-packed, as the Scots came back from a 15-9 deficit with help from a couple of incredible digs in the clutch by junior libero Isabelle Won.
Another key aspect of the game for the Scots was establishing connections and communication between their players.
“We have great connections between our setters and hitters as well as great communications in the back row with regards to scenes and communication,” Won said.
The dominance continued even past the varsity level, as all three Carlmont girls volleyball teams (varsity, junior varsity, freshmen) completed sweeps of their own, with final scores of 3-0, 2-0, and 2-0 respectively.
During the game, the Sequoia rivalry was just in the back of my brain. I knew some of the players on the other team, so that motivated me to beat them even more
— Allison Hoang, a junior setter
As with most rivalry games, both teams brought their passion and energy to the court, with Carlmont’s bench being a constant source of cheers, antics, and pure adrenaline for the action-packed matchup.
“[The bench] helps my play tremendously because their energy shows their support for our team and their desire to win. All of this combined is what drives our team to win,” said junior opposite hitter Evelyn Welton.
The foundations of the squad’s positive energy stem from the amazing team chemistry possessed by the Scots.
“I think we gelled as soon as we met each other and I think it definitely helps with our performances, especially because setter-to-hitter connections and communication are really important,” said freshman Alyssa Ison.
The Scots are now 1-2 in league play and 5-5 overall and will have their next game at home against Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Article Published: Sept. 17, 2022