Article by Phoenix writer Justin McKenzie ’24:
On October 29th, 2023, the Junior Varsity Lady Firebirds Volleyball team ended a stellar season with an amazing championship win against Sacred Heart Academy. The team was undefeated in league play and continued their dominant season with playoff success, winning both sets by a score of 25-14 and 25-20.
The offense, led by sophomore Middle Hitter Angela Bush, was on point all game. The team’s defense was outstanding as well. Defensively, the team was led by sophomore Julianna Lucie, who performed exceptionally from the service line.
Julianna shared, “The energy was much higher this year compared to last year’s final. The whole team was fired up, and everyone was all in. The sophomores realized that this was our last ride on JV, and we wanted to go out with a bang.”
Angela added, “This team was absolutely unforgettable. Going from barely knowing each other to winning a championship with an undefeated season is crazy! We all realized the talent and potential of this team from our first practice and tournament and just ran with it to the end. I am so lucky and grateful that I got to play with this team. Thank you to our coaches and teammates so much for an unforgettable season!”
The win was especially sweet for the Lady Firebirds, who came up short in last year’s championship.
“Losing last year was heartbreaking, so coming back this year was redemption,” stated Coach Strauss. “Throughout the season, we constantly made changes depending on the teams we played. The girls’ selflessness allowed them to adapt. We were never complacent. They work hard, they care about each other, and as coaches, we feel privileged to be around them.”
The team’s hard work and commitment was apparent in their successes, and this championship was a great end to the 2023 season.
