SPORts

GHS Dukes Secure Victory from Denbigh

Editor Eden Smith

On Tuesday, September 24th, the Gloucester Highschool Varsity Boys volleyball team defeated the Denbigh Highschool Patriots.

The starting lineup consisted of sophomore #9 Quinn Estlack, and Seniors #10 Jack Ronan, #18 David Ward, #6 Brant Brophy, #16 Bo Rose, and #5 Garret Ivey.

The Dukes won three out of the four sets against Denbigh. The first sets’ score was 25-17 with GHS dominating. The second sets’ score came out to 25-19 with Denbigh tying up the score.

The second set was the only loss that Gloucester faced during the game. Brophy spoke about the loss, he stated “I [think] that we tried to force things that we shouldn't of done, and it was just bad set.” Estlack also elaborated, “I think we kinda just got tired, [....] careless, and sloppy ”

Third set comes around and Gloucester pushes ahead with a score of 25-17, another GHS dub.

Gloucester takes the easy win in the fourth and last set leaving the court 25-14 with Denbigh hanging their heads.

Sandahl, Estlack, and Brophy all stated that they didn’t have a doubt in their mind about taking on Denbigh and coming out with the win.

When asked about what player they felt contributed the most to the victory Brophy believes “Jack Sandahl, or Quinn Estlack. Both actually, [because] Jack needs Quinn and Quinn needs Jack, They're like a power duo.” Estlack then said “[Jack and I] just work well together, and we are knowledgeable and have [...] experience.”

The team had some amazing plays including an absolute power play between Sandahl and his setter.

Sandahl showed great pride and excitement when explaining how the play went down. “I'll say it's probably when it was like 24-17, and we had the last point so I went up for a [serve] and I hit it like as hard as I could and it was probably my fastest serve and then it was like an overpass so it came back and I passed it and then [Quinn] sent me back and I got the kill off of that”

Not only was this an amazing game with a great show of sportsmanship and skill, it was game of strength, both mental and physical.

Before the game, a moment of silence was held for Jack Sandahl and his family following the loss of his mom the previous night. When Sandahl stepped out on the court that night he “wasn't really [..] thinking about it at all, like I was feeling normal […] and then once they called the moment of silence, then it hit me.” Sandahl says that his team has been extremely supportive of him both on the court and in his personal life.

While discussing Sandahls goals for his volleyball career, his proudest moment was thrown into the conversation. Sandahl seemed a bit emotional when he said“by the end of the season, [..] I'll hopefully win player of the year. And that, that will definitely be my proudest moment. I feel like my mom’s here [with me].”