In the exhilarating first round CIF-SS Division III matchup between Poly girls volleyball and Windward High School, the Panthers’ season came to an unfortunate end in three sets. Nevertheless, the Panther volleyball team had a phenomenal season, ending with an overall record of 19-3-1. Although their playoff run ended abruptly, the hard work, dedication and grit the girls put in throughout the season should not go unnoticed.
Co-captain Katie Sam, a senior, said,  “Something that worked well this season was our team chemistry. The team got along well outside of volleyball and off the court which helped us play with high energy, determination and drive.”
“At the end of the day, volleyball is a team sport, so being more connected with your teammates will always help our play,” Sam added.
This close-knit bond between teammates was cultivated with shared meals, team meetings, and support for one another, creating a sense of unity that fueled their on-court performance.
The team, boasting a star-studded rotation of senior college commits Caroline Holdsworth, Olivia Ip and Tilde Keatley, initially relied heavily on their talent. Sometimes, this led to them overlooking the foundational skills, a struggle addressed early on in the season by head coach Katrina Damasco.
“We rely heavily on our natural talent, but sometimes, we take our talent for granted and lose a little bit of our discipline in taking care of the small things and easy skills,” said Damasco. Emphasizing fundamentals propelled the team to frequent success, winning key matches and securing second place in the Prep League.
Senior Bella Duncan reflected on the growth and evolution of the team throughout the season. “In the beginning, we worked on figuring out different plays and pieces of our lineup to see what works best, and by the end of the season, I think we definitely clicked together,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to being able to spend time with my teammates again and continue to improve, and even though the seniors won’t be there I’m excited to also meet new people on the team,” shared sophomore Sona Martin. Martin, inspired by the example set by the upperclassmen, says, “The seniors helped me improve my skills by setting an amazing example for all of the underclassmen to work toward.” That said, Martin and her teammates are eager to continue the tradition of excellence on and off the court.
Even after the season, the Panthers’ perseverance and commitment to the sport and each other remained unwavering. Their camaraderie is evident in how they celebrate each other’s successes and pick each other up after setbacks.
Although this was Duncan’s last season, she exclaimed, “I can’t wait to see how Poly volleyball continues to grow in the coming years!”