The Arcadia High School (AHS) Girls Varsity Volleyball team played their first round of CIF playoffs against Woodrow Wilson High School (WHS) in the AHS North Gym on Oct. 24. It was a greatly anticipated game, not only because getting into CIF is no easy feat, but also because of the team’s impressive stats: the Lady Apaches have lost only twice this month, and they stood second in Pacific League rankings. Ultimately, the score was 0-3 in WHS’s favor, marking an end to the 2024-2025 Girl’s Volleyball season for AHS.
Prior to the game, the team warmed up by practicing their drills. They were also reviewing their game strategies in a group huddle on the sidelines.
The Lady Apaches were able to score the first point in the game, as the referee signaled a touch call to the Bruins. Both teams were extremely close in terms of score, especially during the first set. This was particularly evident during the middle of the first set, where the Apaches broke a tie with an added point– only to have the Bruins score again, thus leading to another tie.
The first set ended with a score of 25-27, signifying how evenly matched the two teams were.
The stands, which were filled with supportive parents, friends, as well as teachers and administrative staff, filled with noise and excitement whenever a strong play was made by the Apaches. Throughout the game, teammates and fans alike enthusiastically cheered for the players on the court; after each huddle, the team shouted for their teammates.
During the second and third sets of the game, the girls continued to show dedication and determination through coordinated serves and passes. It was clear that they were not in the lead; however, they persisted through and ended the last two sets of the game with scores of 16-25 and 18-25 respectively.
When asked about the game, Volleyball Coach Kurt Mulder stated that despite the loss, he could see “a lot of promise in our underclassmen,” adding that nevertheless, “It was a good game.”
After the game concluded, the Lady Apaches showed their support for each other as they hugged each other and exchanged words of encouragement to their teammates.
“I think it was a [still] great game; we put our all into it,” commented volleyball team member and junior Nina Tang. “It was a great season.
