In their first match of the season, the varsity girls volleyball team defeated Lake Howell 3-0 on Aug. 23. The team was led by senior setter Brielle Mullin with 29 assists and junior right side hitter Jenness Orcutt with 10 kills. 

“I was super proud of how the team performed, our chemistry on and off the court translates well into games,” Orcutt said. 

The team started off with a strong first set, winning 25-16, but the second set was much closer. The score was 20-20 when Mullin set Orcutt up for a kill, leading to a 25-23 victory. Using their momentum, the team won the third set, 25-15.

“We really wanted to win our first game… We knew we were better than how we were playing in the second set, so we came together as a team and finished strong,” Mullen said. 

Sophomore Eva Woolm and junior Ally Leach both made their varsity debut in the starting lineup. Woolm helped lead the team with eight kills and Leach contributed 14 digs, allowing the team to execute their high-speed offense. 

“For our first game, I think it went really well. We all have a good bond inside and outside of volleyball, helping us communicate and keep our offense and defense running smoothly,” Leach said. 

The team will attend the Nike Tournament of Champions in Gainesville on Aug. 30-31. The next home game will be Sept. 12 against Lake Mary. Tickets can be purchased on gofan.com.