It was the final game of the season—Verrado High School against Basha High School. Everyone was eager to play, with most looking ahead into the club season. Regardless, the focus was on today’s game. The ride to Basha was long, and the girls were tired from a full day of school. The bus ride seemed to stretch forever.
Once they arrived at Basha High School, they were ready to refuel. The whole team filled up and got dressed for the game. After grabbing some food from Chick-fil-A, they all headed into the gym to watch the freshman team play, offering support while they waited for their turn.
As the freshman game progressed, the girls started putting on their shoes and getting in the zone. During the second set of the freshman game, they went through their pre-game stretching routine, preparing for their own warm-ups. One by one, each player chased down balls, first to the right and then to the left, working out the kinks.
Soon, the referees called the captains to the center, and the team’s two captains walked up with the coach. Unfortunately, they lost the coin toss and were stuck receiving serve. With the three-minute warm-up timer starting, the team went into high gear, practicing down balls and free balls, trying to shake off the fatigue.
After the three minutes were up, it was time for hitting lines. Passers, setters, outsides, middles, and rightsides rotated through, hitting hard to get their bodies ready. As the one-minute mark approached, they all headed to the serving line, getting in their final reps before the game began.
With the timers ending, Basha’s team took the court to warm up, showing off their deep corner swings, looking sharp and prepared. As they finished their warm-up, the game was about to start.
From the very first point, both teams struggled with serve receive. Verrado managed to claw back a few points, but they quickly lost momentum. The first set went mostly in Basha’s favor, though there were flashes of brilliance from Verrado—a few solid serving runs that helped close the gap. Despite their efforts, Basha took the first set, leaving Verrado with some nerves but a growing sense of calm.
In the second set, Basha quickly built a lead, but Verrado fought back. A missed drive by a Basha player gave Verrado a point, and soon after, Basha missed a serve, allowing Verrado to capitalize and inch closer. But despite their best efforts, Basha regained control and took the set, finishing the match with a victory.
Verrado fought hard, but in the end, they couldn’t quite make it happen. It was a tough loss, but for many, there was a sense of relief. With the season behind them, the focus would now shift to the club season and improving for next year.