Volleyball still competitive in each division
Posted Oct. 4, 2021
Staff Reporter
After roughly two months of playing, the DDHS volleyball teams have remained high on brackets for each division level.
The volleyball teams played at home against Clackamas on Sept. 22. Varsity started off strong but eventually lost all three matches to Clackamas. The first match ended 25-21, Clackamas. The second match was neck and neck until the Cavaliers took the win, 27-25. When the third match rolled around both teams were on their A-game, not wanting to lose. Clackamas eventually took the win, 25-18. One of the points Douglas won from the last match was off of senior and right side hitter Alex Mann’s head. She tried to block the spike from the Cavs, but the ball went in between her arms and behind her. Mann thought that the ball hit the floor so she turned around to find the ball hitting her head. The ball was then sent over the net with a spike, winning a point for Douglas.
Senior Night is Oct. 20 against Centennial in the north gym. Both varsity games start at 6:30 p.m.
The bracket score for varsity on Oct. 11 was six wins and five losses. Douglas has played four home games against Barlow, Gresham, Clackamas, and Central Catholic. There were three away games against Sandy, Reynolds, and Centennial. There was also a tournament at Canby where the varsity team competed in the pool-play, but lost to the first bracket team with close scores.
Due to Covid quarantines, the team is missing players and hasn’t played with the full team since the beginning of the season. Coach Janene Rainey has to create new lineups often. Volleyball players are allowed to take their masks off when on the court, but other schools have asked that they keep their masks on. Wearing a mask makes it hard to communicate with teammates and coaches, and coaches are losing their voices because they have to compensate for the masks.
“One way Covid has affected my team is that I don’t high-five my players as much as I used to, and that feels so weird to me,” said JV2 coach Janet Costello.
Captains for this season include seniors Lexy Tomey, Aspen Pearce, and Brook Le, the same captains from varsity last season. There are no freshmen on the team, but there are two sophomores, two juniors, and 11 other seniors.
“We have a lot of positive energy and talent,” said Rainey. “The girls have come together as a team and earned the respect of other teams this season.”
JV fought neck and neck against Clackamas on Oct. 14, but eventually lost both matches, 25-18 and 25-21. The JV team bracket score as of Oct. 11 was 4-4.
"The season has been good so far," said JV coach Keller Mariko, "Our games have been very competitive and fun.”
The JV2 team went against Clackamas, winning 25-12 in the first match, but losing the second match, 12-25, then winning the game in the last match, 15-7. The JV2’s bracket score is now 5-2, all three matches of the defeated games neck and neck.
“JV2 is really strong this year,” said Rainey.