Embodying the definition of unity, Poly’s girls varsity volleyball team moves effortlessly across the court, striking the ball with precision, confidence and synergy. But for the Panthers, unity isn’t just about working together to beat their opponents; it’s about playing like a family, celebrating each point gained, and cheering their teammates on from the sidelines.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the team closed out their season against Mayfield Senior School, ending in a defeat in the fifth set, 14-16. Ultimately, the team concluded the season with a league record of 5-7, placing Poly fifth in the Prep League standings and disqualifying them for CIF this year.
Head coach Katrina Damasco-Dicipulo, a former Poly varsity volleyball player who started coaching the Poly girls volleyball team in 2018, stated, “One of the main differences between this year’s team versus other years has been the amount of underclassmen that made it to varsity. Taking on five freshmen has been the biggest freshman class on the varsity team since she began coaching.”
This influx of young players forced the team to change the way they play and adapt with each game. However, junior defensive specialist Maddie Gaspard believes this young talent is an investment for future years: “While we didn’t do amazing [this year], we just have a really young team. So I think that as all of the girls continue to get older, it’s a really high potential team.”
Adapting to differing levels of experience wasn’t the only challenge the Panthers faced; this season was plagued with injuries. With critical members of the team like junior right side hitter Oona Doner and junior captain libero Keira Kim sidelined by injuries, the team had to rely heavily on its less experienced, underclassmen players.
“We’ve had a lot of the key players out because of injuries, and I think we worked harder, especially at the end of the year, to make up for that and overcome the challenge,” Kim reflected.
Despite these obstacles, Damasco-Dicipulo spoke proudly about this season’s successes, highlighting their game away against Mayfield Senior on Friday, Sept. 11 where they pushed the Cubs to five sets. Even though the match resulted in a loss for Poly, Damasco-Dicipulo pointed out that Poly’s volleyball team was the only team in the league to take the 12-0 Mayfield to five sets.
One of the main reasons for the team’s positive energy under trying circumstances is their bond, with relationships that stretch across grade levels. “They genuinely really love each other, and it shows on and off the court. They’re so kind to each other,” said Damasco-Dicipulo. “They really just encourage each other and show selflessness in ways that sets [them] apart from others.”
This culture has had an impact on new underclassmen. Freshman defensive specialist Naomi Kim, who met the team during summer practices, expressed that she was able to form connections with people in other grades, saying, “I think I learned a lot not just about volleyball, but also about friendship and how to be a part of [a] team.”
In spite of the hard season, various injuries, and new faces within the team, Poly’s girls volleyball team has proven their unity through navigating these challenges with ease and adaptability.
Senior captain and middle blocker Daniela Watson reflected, “It feels like we’ve finally come together as one big team, where everyone genuinely cares about each other and wants each other to succeed. That’s what has made this season so meaningful to me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my league season at this school.”
