After an undefeated season of gameplay, a hiatus after Christmas break, and some uncertainty on whether they would even be able to return, the Husky’s Senior girls volleyball team started their February post-season run.
Throughout their impressive regular season, the Huskies only lost one set. They were easily the best team in the West division. However, their playoff games would prove to be much more difficult.
The Sacred Heart girls ended their regular season on a 3-0 win against Woodroffe High School back on December 15. Two months later, on February 15, they made their return in a playoff game against École Secondaire Gisele Lalonde. This game was no doubt their biggest challenge yet and there were a lot of nerves going into it. With practices almost every day leading up to the game, Sacred Heart’s volleyball team knew they were in for a tough game. Tension rose as they got ready to face off against Gisele Lalonde and despite not getting off to the start they were hoping to, the Huskies stayed in the game. They won a close first set but lost an even closer second and third set, meaning they were down 2-1.
As the team faced their first deficit this season, they could no longer afford to drop a set. Players later admit that, despite having faith in their team, they were not confident in coming out on top. Yet, after a few key time-outs by coach DiCresce, the team was able to reset and come back to win the next set. It was only fitting that this incredibly close game would go into a tie-breaking fifth set. Even though it had been a tight game so far, once it came to the last set, the momentum had swung in Sacred Heart’s favour. It became clear that nothing was getting between the Huskies and a victory. They ended up taking the 3-2 win in what Grade 11, Marynna Cook called
“the most stressful game ever.”
With that victory, the Senior Girls were set to face off against Longfields-Davidson Heights at home on February 17. So the Huskies got back to work! They practiced on the 16th in order to fine-tune their approach and then headed into their second playoff game ready to win. And win they did, as they took a 3-1 match against the Ravens.
The team’s 2-0 playoff run now brings them to the city final against Nepean High School on March 1st. Their whole season has been leading up to this and the Huskies could not be in a better position heading into their final match. Regardless of the outcome, the 2021-22 Sr. Girls Volleyball team will go down in Husky Athletics as a force to be reckoned with! Congratulations on your amazing season and good luck at the finals!