Malibu Excessive coach commends the departing gamers for sticking with group after having no freshman season
The final two contests of the Malibu Excessive ladies volleyball group’s season had been away video games this week.
Contests on the highway are particular reminiscences that Sharks senior outdoors hitter Coco Lupo will all the time maintain onto. Nonetheless, it isn’t as a result of she loved chasing victory in opposing groups’ gyms. Lupo thinks about time spent along with her teammates.
“Throughout tournaments, we’d have a protracted day of taking part in, so we’d go to some quick meals restaurant someplace and eat junk and simply discuss stuff,” she recalled.
Her classmate and teammate Milan Kelly, additionally an out of doors hitter, has related ideas.
“The enjoyment of all of us collectively and experiencing the bus rides — all these humorous moments,” she mentioned. “If we lose or win, we elevate one another up. These are moments to recollect. These moments constructed a bond.”
The volleyball gamers mentioned their final residence recreation of the season, a five-set loss to the Hueneme Vikings on Oct. 5, was simply as momentous as a result of it was the group’s Senior Night time celebration.
Kelly, Lupo, and fellow Twelfth-graders Kate Mulder and Valeria Marquez had been acknowledged through the contest together with junior libero Jasmine Bellamy, who’s transferring overseas.
The celebration included a adorned gymnasium and cheering crowd. The seniors had their photos taken and got flowers. All the group wore matching pink socks.
Mulder appreciated being recommended on Senior Night time.
“The sport had an excellent turnout,” she mentioned. “It was enjoyable to be acknowledged.”
Malibu received the primary and third units towards the Vikings however misplaced the second and fourth units. They misplaced the ultimate set by a few factors.
Lupo mentioned Malibu’s efficiency towards Hueneme was the squad’s better of the season.
“We actually, actually needed it,” she mentioned. “We needed to win. We gave it our all. I used to be pleased with everybody by the tip of it.”
Malibu head coach Derek Saenz mentioned the seniors and Bellamy all had constructive impacts on the volleyball group.
“All of them added to this system,” he mentioned. “Their personalities, what they convey within the gymnasium with them, is all nice.”
The seniors’ freshman volleyball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They stepped on the courtroom collectively the subsequent 12 months.
Their coach recommended the Sharks’ departing gamers for sticking with the group regardless of not having a freshman season.
“These ladies went via quite a bit, however caught with it,” Saenz famous.
Marquez, a center blocker and out of doors hitter, mentioned the women stored one another constructive.
“If one among us was not within the loop, we’d be like, ‘Hey snap out of it,’” she mentioned. “We now have one another’s again, which is sweet.”
Malibu claimed victories over Monrovia, Lynwood, Mendez, Camino Nuevo Dalzell Lance Campus, Channel Islands, Fillmore, and de Toledo earlier than the shut of their 2023 marketing campaign this week.
Kelly mentioned their 3-0 overcome de Toledo on Sept. 28 was excellent.
“We had quite a lot of enjoyable and did very nicely,” she mentioned.
Malibu confronted Channel Islands on Monday and Fillmore on Wednesday.
The Sharks, Saenz mentioned, had been a flexible and bodily group.
“After we performed nicely, we seemed like the very best group within the Citrus Coast League,” he mentioned.
Mulder, a setter, described Malibu as a close-knit group.
“I’ll all the time keep in mind the seniors as nice ladies,” she mentioned. “The entire ladies are enjoyable to be round. I really like them.”