In the last home game of the season, the Arcadia High School (AHS) Boys Varsity Volleyball team faced Glendale High School (GHS) on Apr. 16. AHS defeated Glendale with a score of 3-0, marking the team’s record now 27-4. The team also celebrated senior night after the game, where friends and family of the players gathered to congratulate and show their support for the graduating seniors. From start to finish, the stands were full of people cheering on the players.
The boys started off the first set with a bang, quickly scoring points on GHS. Initially, it seemed like GHS would make a comeback against AHS, but the powerful hits and steel-tight blocks of the AHS boys resulted in a winning score of 25-12. GHS also called a time-out during the first set in an attempt to break the momentum, but they still didn’t manage to win it.
In the second set, GHS rallied a lot of energy from the bench, who supportively cheered on their players throughout. However, AHS won the second set as well, ending with a score of 25-17. Compared to the AHS team, GHS had fewer players, with only one extra player on the bench as a substitute. This quickly led to them getting tired out, contributing to the loss.
For the third and final set, AHS won with a score of 25-10. Yet it is important to note that to the AHS seniors, this game was less about beating GHS as fast and hard as possible and more about having a good time at their last home game.
“I think today was just a day to let loose, have fun, and, you know, appreciate all those around me,” said Outside Hitter senior Dylan Vong.
“I think we were all in a whimsical mood,” said Captain senior Aaron Liang, “so hopefully everybody had a good time watching.”
Following the game, the players gathered for the senior night celebration with friends and family. Balloons, posters, and baskets full of goodies were presented to the seniors, and cheers echoed throughout the gym in celebration. Besides senior night, Apr. 16 was also Liang’s birthday, and the players surprised him with a birthday cake after the game, as well as cupcakes for the rest of the team to enjoy.
The AHS Boys Varsity Volleyball team is well-known for being an energetic and strongly-bonded group. Many players have been on the team for all of their high school years, including Vong, Liang, and many of the other seniors leaving this year.
“These guys are basically blood-related to me at this point. We spend a lot of time outside of school together, especially this year, we’ve been dedicating a lot more time together outside of just the gym,” said Vong.
“We’re all brothers on and off the court,” said Middle Blocker/Opposite senior Noah Chung.
Congrats to all the seniors on their last home game! The boys will continue to play more matches as the season goes on.
