The Carlmont girls freshmen volleyball team defeated Hillsdale in two straight sets to maintain the No. 1 ranking on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
With the fall season coming to a close, pressure is rising for the Scots. A two-set shut-out against the Knights allowed the Scots to come together and demonstrate their chemistry as a team.
“Our team is very consistent with our energy and everything,” said outside hitter Amber Lee. “But this will definitely give us a confidence boost since we won faster than usual.”
The Scots scored five consecutive points in the first set to gain an early lead over the Knights. However, the Knights quickly caught up and forced a score of 9-8 with the Scots still leading.
Carlmont stopped Hillsdale’s short-lived comeback and finished the set at 25-17.
The beginning of the second set was more competitive. The score difference struggled to rise above two points and both teams fought to keep the game alive.
As the set drew closer to its final moments, the Scots called for a timeout. Carlmont had given up three points in a row, allowing the Knights to tie the score at 17-17.
After the timeout, the Scots battled against the Knights and scored seven consecutive points. The Carlmont gym buzzed with excitement as the match point played out. The crowd watched anxiously as the ball slammed onto the ground and the line refs raised their red flags, signaling the ball had landed out, and Hillsdale had won the point.
However, a service error from the Knights quickly ended the match. The Scots erupted with joyful shouts and joined their teammates on the court to celebrate the victory.
Lee and her teammate, Olivia Barton, said they experienced significant growth throughout their first high school season as individuals and as a team. Barton said the main reason for this was their coaches, Grace Smirnoff and Sergio Smirnoff.
“When I make a mistake, they tell me what to do next time, and I kind of channel that in every game,” Barton said. “This game was the same.”
Sergio Smirnoff said the first-year students grew in confidence and delivery in their positions.
“Based on their position, they improve and raise the bar, and as coaches, we found the right spot for everybody so they can bring value to the table each game,” Sergio Smirnoff said.
The Scots are now placed first in their league.
“We have to play Menlo Atherton on Thursday and Sequoia on Tuesday,” Sergio Smirnoff said. “If everything goes well, we may be champions.”
