![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![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)
Phoenix Sweep the Vikings as Volleyball Wins First Home Game of the Season
On August 25, the Phoenix girls volleyball team had their first regular season home game against the Loudoun Valley Vikings. The game ended with a Phoenix victory of 3 sets to 0.
Junior outside hitter Sidney Powell jumps as she serves the ball over the net to the opposing side.
September 1, 2022
On Thursday, Aug. 25, the Phoenix girls volleyball team played against the Loudoun Valley Vikings at home for the first time this season. The girls started the school year off right with a hard fought win of 3-0.
The game started off smoothly for the Phoenix; however, at the start of the third set, due to a Viking player being under the net, outside hitter Grace Tucker took a trip to her knee. Her teammates and coaches didn’t falter, rushing to help her and also asking for the validity of the call, or lack thereof. “It was hard to hear, because I didn’t know how long I’d be out for,” Grace Tucker said. “But it was just a minor injury, so I was okay.”
In the first set of the match, the lead continuously switched between both teams, leaving the student sections tensions high. The Phoenix eventually came out on top with a score of 25-22. They kept their momentum going as they took the 2nd set with a score of 25-21. After solidifying their defensive counters and offensive attacks, the Phoenix finished the match strong and won the 3rd set 25-16.
![On Friday, Dec. 19, seniors filled the library for the winter senior breakfast event, put together with the help of administrators and parent volunteers. Excitement and joy filled the atmosphere as the Class of 2025 filed into the school library to celebrate their four years of accomplishment as students.
The menu for this breakfast was an assortment of sweet treats: donuts, apple and orange juice, coffee, hot chocolate, and gingerbread cookies. Students were able to decorate their own gingerbread cookies with a variety of different icing and sprinkles to choose from. The tables were decorated with blue tablecloths to celebrate the winter season. Plates and napkins also followed the holiday theme.
Senior Blessing Amuga attended the event for her friends and the food. “This time [the breakfast was better because] there were many activities,” Amuga said.
In the midst of the festivities, students were provided with the opportunity to vote on one of four designs on the front and two designs on the back for their senior class shirt design. They are able to submit their designs by Dec. 18 for a chance to be selected as the winning design.
✏️ and 📷 by Ryan Desiderio, Rachel Bhardwaj, Sitwat Mian](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)