On Thursday, Sept. 12, the Phoenix varsity girls volleyball team lost against the Riverside Rams in the second home game of the season. Despite keeping the sets close, the Rams came out on top in three of the three sets played during the game, winning the match 0-3. “I think the Riverside game pushed us to work harder to create that team chemistry that we are developing over the course of the season,” senior Gabby Anderson said.

The first set was defined by back and forth scoring, with the score kept close for the first half. However,  the Rams were able to gain enough momentum to outscore the Phoenix in the second half, ending the first set 17-25.

After some spirit-lifting chants from the junior varsity and freshman volleyball team from the sidelines, the second set began with the same energy, with seniors Lola Aguilar and Anderson making saves that left the crowd at the edge of their seats. Despite the Phoenix’s efforts, the Rams were able to secure the second set 12-25. The third and final set was a show of grit and perseverance from the Phoenix, where they kept the intensity up while keeping the score close, ending the final set 19-25. “I think I played smart when I got the ball, but ultimately, I could have done better had I had the opportunity to touch the ball more,” Aguilar said.

The next Phoenix girls volleyball game is on Thursday, Sept. 26, against the Dominion Titans.