![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
Students and Staff Set, Serve, and Spike
On March 18, students and staff faced off against each other in the sixth annual student vs. staff volleyball game. The staff team consisted of 14 members, while the students’ team had 21 students. Out of three sets, staff won the last two, claiming this year’s victory.
The student crowd shines their phone flashlights to the music as junior Emily Lam prepares to serve the ball.
March 30, 2022
As the students scored their first point of the annual student vs. staff volleyball game, the crowd roared with cheers and applause, jumping up on their feet, and shouting compliments to their fellow students on the court.
The students started off strong in the first set, winning 15-6. “We had a bunch of energy going into the second and third sets,” junior participant Emily Lam said. “We were all really energized with everyone in the crowd.”
Although the students had a competitive first set, they fell to the staff team in sets two and three, with scores of 15-9 and 15-8, respectively.
Assistant special education teacher and Track & Field Coach Trent Lancaster won MVP for his performance in the game. “It feels nice [to get MVP], but I think the big part of it was definitely just how we worked as a team,” Lancaster said.
Staff members and students alike had positive reflections about the game. “My favorite moment was stuffing my coach [Trent Lancaster],” senior Tiernan Caulfield said. “I jumped and blocked him really well.”
After recent cancellations of pep rallies due to concerns about the pandemic, students are excited to bring back old traditions. “Being able to play in front of the student body and playing with each other [was a memorable experience], because we don’t really get the chance to play with our peers, so I think that was really fun,” Lam said.
English teacher Shelby Whittington said she greatly enjoys the annual game. “It was really exciting,” Whittington said. “We always have so much fun doing this.”
Both students and staff members enjoy the annual tradition and recognize its importance in fostering a close-knit school community. “We want to build up school spirit,” junior class Vice President Isabella Nguyen said. “[By] getting more students involved [in school events], I feel like we build a community and a family.”
![On Nov. 22, students and staff competed against each other during the ninth annual Student vs. Staff Volleyball Game. The game ended with a 36-30 victory for the students, marking their third consecutive win and bringing the overall series to 6-3 in favor of the students.
The game was competitive, drawing significant anticipation as the teachers sought to even the score after last year’s loss. “We kind of know the strengths of people,” social sciences teacher Steven Mobley said. “There's a lot of staff emails actually going on about it, like who wants to play where and who wants to play when. So we're communicating a lot more this year than previous years.”
While members of the staff team focused on playing strategy and communicating with each other, the students walked into the game with specific goals they wanted to achieve. “I’m not violent, [but] I want to try to get Mr. Clear, and if not him, I want to get Ms. Leach,” senior Rishit Choudhari said. “I want to see Mr. Clear upset and frowning.”
The game began with the students and staff tying with a score of 10-10 in the first set. However, the students edged ahead during the second set, having a strong lead of 25-19. The final set saw both teams exchanging points in a close contest, but the students pulled away in the final minutes to secure the 36-30 win.
Senior Mihir Peta was crowned MVP for the second time, his first after the 2022 Students vs. Staff Volleyball Game for his dedication to ensuring the student team won. “I don't want to sound cocky, but it was expected, to be honest,” Peta said. “I won it sophomore year, I should have won it junior year, but I couldn't play. So I came back for redemption senior year.”
✏️ and 📷 by Ananya Karthik, Sophie King, and Shivu Sathe](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)