![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)
CLASH OF THE CLASSES: Don’t Stop Ball-ieving
On Oct. 18, seniors and juniors were pitted against each other in the second annual “Clash of Classes” kickball game. Towards the end of the game, seniors pulled through with a 9 point comeback, ending the game 16-7.
Senior Srikar Bangaru runs to homebase as the Juniors chuck the ball at him to get him out. “I wanted to play because it is my senior year and I want to make the most out of the opportunities I have left in high school to have fun and make memories,” Bangaru said.
October 20, 2022
On Tuesday, Oct. 18, seniors and juniors competed in the second annual clash of classes kickball game. Despite the chilly weather, the atmosphere was full of adrenaline, as both classes wanted to come out on top.
The juniors started strong with powerful kicks and speedy sprints to the bases, creating a nice cushion between themselves and the seniors with a score of 5-0. As the game progressed, seniors stayed a couple points behind. At the beginning of the 6th inning, the score was 6-4, juniors still in the lead. Then, after a team huddle, a change in game plan resulted in a turn around for the seniors.
“We started a strategy where we’d bunt the first [ball] to get a few people on the bases, and then we’d have one of our players kick the ball as far as they could to give the other players a chance to score,” senior Taylor Cheek said. This play allowed the seniors to eliminate the score gap, putting them ahead of the game ending the sixth inning 9-7.
As the game gained a rhythm, seniors Ilias Cholakis and Brandon Kilfeather “made some great plays and kept the team hyped up, even when we were losing in the beginning,” Cheek said.
The seventh inning grew more intense as the seniors were on a point streak. “The comeback felt amazing,” senior Srikar Bangaru said. “Just as all of us gave up and the other students and teachers assumed the juniors would win, we went on a scoring run.”
Seniors won the game with a comeback of 16-7. “It was a rather humbling experience,” junior Keyaan Bashir said.
![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)