Set for Success

The varsity volleyball team wins districts for the first time in three years.

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Rachel Turpin

Junior Rachel Turpin sets a ball.

After a 3-0 win over Athens to move on from semis, the varsity volleyball team won the district finals on Oct. 3 against Seaholm in the Athens gym. Following a 10-14-3 season (4-4-0 in the league), the win at districts felt ecstatic to junior Jessica Robinson. The victory was a milestone for the team, its first district title since 2014.

“Our main goal for the season was to win districts, so we went in with a lot of energy,”  junior Lauren Alberts said.

Many players on the team felt that the team chemistry and solid coaching were what they needed to secure the title.

“This was a really big year,” Robinson said. “This was the year that we had the talent, we had the coaches and we had the people on the team to win districts. It was a really big struggle, but we did it.”

The team took three of the five sets against Seaholm to come home with the win. Robinson says that the win could be felt throughout the gym that night, creating an atmosphere like no other.

“I didn’t want to leave the gym,” Robinson said, “I just wanted to stay in that moment.”

The team ended the night with a special ceremony. Assistant Principal Dan House presented the awards to the players.

“Mr. House gave us all medals individually,” Alberts said. “We got the big Michigan trophy which was really cool to have.”

A night that will be recorded in the team’s history, they set out to win and made it a reality. This was the end that the players had been looking for.

“We had it in our hearts to win districts and we got the win,” Alberts said.