April 17th, the Friday before April break, was full of fatigue and weariness. Reflected in the day’s atmosphere, it was exceptionally drab; the sky was clouded in gray, and the air misty and cold.
The Golden Tornados Boys’ Volleyball team found themselves faced against the Spy Ponders of Arlington High in their 11th match of the season overall.
Just before the varsity game began, the Junior Varsity of both teams had just completed their match against one another, setting the tone for school spirit amongst the audience. Both teams began warming up on the court, stretching and preparing themselves mentally and physically.
The first set was played in Malden’s favor, ultimately ending in 25-23, proving themselves as a formidable foe against Arlington. Tension was in the air, as both teams had played a tight match against one another, with Arlington barely trailing behind.
The set was primarily dominated by Malden, as they maintained a consistent lead over Arlington, evident in the strategic blocks and swings of Malden players, such as junior Middle Blocker Demin Han and junior Outside Hitter Israel DeSouza.
Both teams had their respective cheers from players throughout the match, like “How high is the net? Too high!” was exclaimed when Arlington would hit into the net.
Switching the sides of the court, in their second set, Arlington took the first point. However, Malden kept their heads held high with unwavering determination from the previous round, quickly catching up. After the slight drawback, Malden was able to keep a strong lead of two to three points ahead of their opponent.
Both teams continued to toss their leads back and forth, switching from ties to one-point differences. By a score of 17-15 in Arlington’s favor, Malden reconvened, calling their first timeout.
After their break, the Tornados would catch up at 17-17, before halting in score. Arlington steadily scored the next four points, maintaining a lead of three to four points. In the end, Arlington would gain their first point after blocking Senior Captain and Outside Hitter, Adrian Lee’s volley, with a score of 25-21.
The third set began with Arlington taking the first point, which notably featured Senior and Libero1, Lynkolnn Silva, spiking across the net. Much like the previous set, Malden found themselves starting off strong, with some notable score leads, such as 10-5. Eventually, Arlington would catch up and tie the score at 11-11.
From that point on, both teams clashed heads, going back and forth for the lead. At the end of the set, both teams remained close in score, with a timeout from Malden at 24-23, discussing what could be their final rally if not played strategically.
Ending at 25-23, Arlington gained their second point of the night. However, the Tornados played a great set as the MVPs of the round included: DeSouza, with notable spikes, ace serves, and waterfalls2, junior Defense Specialist Joan Diaz Vargas, with consistent swings, and many successful spikes from Lee.
Malden entered the fourth set determined to come back from their last two losses. This set proved to be quite a match for Malden, as Arlington swooped in with a leading score of 4-1.
Fluke after fluke, Malden remained far behind Arlington, as the Spy Ponders led the set by 12-3, which would only continue in their favor as they steadily climbed the scoreboard, while Malden fluctuated between the single digits. Ultimately, Arlington came out successful, ending the fourth and final set at 25-16.
In a turn of events, Malden had started with a bang, gaining the first point, only trailing behind in the next two sets. However, Arlington shifted the tides, winning them the night’s game.
Senior Captains Ethan Nguyen and Lee highlighted the highs and lows of the game, showing Malden’s success in team-bonding, and used the night as a learning opportunity.
Nguyen observed issues in “staying consistent” throughout the game’s “rough stretches,” which set them behind, while Lee noticed they should’ve kept their “composure when down.” However, Lee and Nguyen were able to both highlight the team’s strong offense, which was “really good,” and had been “staying organized” throughout the match.
As the Boys’ Volleyball team continues throughout the next month, it is important to remember one small fluke doesn’t define their entire season. Taking note of their loss against Arlington only helps the team succeed next time around, setting them up for future wins.
1. A back-row player specializing in defense and can be substituted without counting towards a set’s substitution limit; has a distinct jersey contrasting in color
2. When one team blocks the opposing team’s ball, leading to a straight drop onto the court.
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