WHAT HAPPENED:
The girls varsity volleyball team lost to Caledonia in the annual Bucs Pride game on Tuesday, Oct. 5. The athletes wore purple jerseys in honor or remembrance of those who have fought or are currently fighting cancer. The team won their first game 25-23. However, the Bucs failed to connect for a second win, losing three consecutive games and subsequently losing the match.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN:
The teams’ record falls to 0-4 in the O-K Red Conference and 9-19 on the season.
KEY PLAYERS:
- Sophomores Leah Montgomery and Izzy Whittaker led the Bucs offensively with Montgomery’s 28 assists and Whittaker’s 14 kills during the match.
- Sophomore Taylor Smaka had a strong defensive game getting a total of 18 digs on the night.
THEY SAID IT:
- “We want to learn from this.” senior captain Molly Long said, “We’re a young team and we need to figure out what we need to get better at and what’s gonna work in practice.”
- “I think we gained a lot of experience.” coach Aaron Smaka said, “ I am happy with the experience that we got the kids today. We got some young kids some good time out on the court.”
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Bucs will take on Rockford at home on Thursday, Oct. 7. It will be the annual Staff appreciation night where athletes recognize influential staff members.
“We’re gonna practice hard and we’re not going to let our energy drop,” senior captain Alena Wittaker said. “ We’re just going to fight the whole way through.”