The MacArthur girl’s volleyball team finished in fourth place after the Santa Ana Intermediate School tournament on October 5 at Segerstrom High School. The team went 3-1, winning their games to McFadden Intermediate, Lydia Romero Cruz Academy, and Sierra Preparatory Academy, but losing to Heninger K-8.
“I think they did pretty good because out of 13 schools, they got fourth place. That’s not bad. You know?” said Volleyball Coach Mrs. Ana Garcia.
“I definitely felt more nervous I definitely felt more pressure especially since this season wasn’t the best… I feel like over time our team got better and better as a team,” said eighth-grader Yaritza O., a player on the team. “It was different I felt like playing indoors was better because well it was definitely louder, and it was more safer too.”
Prior to the tournament, the team played a series of travel games, some at MacArthur and others were visiting other school sites. The travel games included a victory against Williard Intermediate and a loss to Santiago K-8.
Eighth-grader Isabella O. said she did not mind the travel games before the tournament. “No, it was honestly the same. I mean I’m used to going different places. I can’t speak on behalf of everybody else. It was not that much of a difference except like when we hit out it would bounce back in and diving on the floor hurt a little bit more because of the hard floor, but other than that it was the same.”
The season started in August and lasted six weeks. There were 16 players on the team, but 102 girls tried out. The practices were Monday through Friday, including modified Wednesdays.
“As a team, we all work together by communicating and yelling for the ball and when we have our team huddles we always share and express what we can do better,” said eighth-grader Jaimie L. “I help manage the practices as one of the captains, by leading the warmups, correcting others when something needs to be corrected, and always being there for someone who needs help.”
In last year’s season, the girls’ volleyball team placed second. Last year’s coach was Social Studies teacher Ms. Isabelle Arriaga, who coached the team for two seasons.