Erynn Du & Miranda Guerrero / Staff reporter
The junior girls volleyball team just finished their season competing against other schools in the Fraser Valley District. They had a thrilling start to the season, winning against Heritage Woods. Grade 10 Ellie Johnson says, “It was exciting to play with the team and being able to compete with other schools since COVID limited some things we weren’t allowed to do.”
Even though the team has not had a great season, the losses have not brought their spirit down. Ms. Fernando, the Junior Girls Volleyball Coach says, “From the moment tryouts started, we knew that the Talons junior girls’ volleyball team would be full of spirit and positive energy.” Additionally, most of this year’s players are new to the sport. “Our team was comprised of a few players who were part of the junior team last year, plus some newcomers. We did not have any club players, but you would not notice by watching them play! It was a steep learning curve, but our group of athletes persevered,” says Ms. Fernando.
When asked, newcomers joined because they felt it was a positive and engaging activity to take part in. “It looked like a good school community,” said Johnson. Jenny Shin, grade 10, also mentioned, “So far it’s been really fun.”
Nicole Lopez, who has been on the volleyball team since last year, shares her thoughts about the sport. “I’ve been playing volleyball for a long time, and I like the sport a lot. You’re constantly moving, and teamwork is really important as well.”
But of course, playing a new sport comes with its own challenges.
“It has been challenging to take those time commitments to play the school sport,” Johnson adds.
“Ms. Demonte and I are so proud of how far they’ve come, and how much they have improved in their athleticism and team cohesiveness. Their rallies and skill are remarkable to watch, and we had one exciting game after another. Although we couldn’t clinch any wins, the team are all winners in their growth and positivity!” concludes Ms. Fernando.