Girls’ volleyball celebrates seniors in game against John Cooper

From+left%3A+Seniors+Kennadie+Jake-Turner%2C+Grace+Hansen%2C+and+Wallis+Turley+celebrate+with+their+families.

Benny He

From left: Seniors Kennadie Jake-Turner, Grace Hansen, and Wallis Turley celebrate with their families.

Following tradition, girls’ volleyball honored the seniors on the team in their game against the John Cooper Dragons on Oct. 17.

“This is my fourth year so these seniors are my first complete, true senior class,” head coach Karen Morgan said. “The program couldn’t have been possible without them. They’ll all be truly missed, but always a part of the Maverick volleyball family.”

The celebrations took place at 6:35 on Liu Court. Parents and important relatives escorted the seniors onto the court, where they were greeted by cheering fans, student photographers and gifts from their coaches.

The first set of the game began just ten minutes later. The Mavs scored the first five points of the set, causing a Dragon timeout at 5-0. The next service after the timeout resulted in a John Cooper point, yet the Mavs quickly won back the ball with an outside hit from junior Sienna Zerr. The serve then went to senior captain and libero, Grace Hansen, who aced her serve for the Mavericks’ 14th point. The Mavs retained their lead, winning the set 25-14.

In the second set, the points alternated between the teams until the Mavs pulled away with a lead of six points at 15-9. Freshman Nova Manning scored another point of an ace for the Mavericks’ 15th point, prompting a timeout for John Cooper. The set resulted in another Maverick win at 25-19.

The Dragons gained a lead of five points at the beginning of the third set. The Mavericks called their first timeout of the set at 1-6. John Cooper stayed in the lead, resulting in another timeout for the Mavs at 14-21. When play resumed, the Mavericks scored multiple consecutive points, raising the score to 21-23, still in favor of the Dragons. After four points, the Mavericks lost the set 23-25.

The fourth set resulted in another loss for the Mavs at 13-25.

The Mavericks began with the serve in the fifth and final set. Senior captain and outside hitter Kennadie Jake-Turner scored the first point with an outside hit. Throughout the set, the Dragons and the Mavs fought back and forth, catching up to the other with each serve exchange until the Dragons pulled away with the lead and won with a score of 13-15.