“Who’s winning?” asks a fashionably late onlooker, Max Cosentino.
“Now, what kind of a question is that?” responds Coach Joe.
Welcome to a Raider volleyball game, where the sidelines are buzzing with confidence of a win. The Class of 2025 Rowdy Raiders are in attendance, leading the chants of “S…T…A!” with each set-winning point.
Although the opening of the season brings excitement and hope for another State Championship win, the new seniors look on the occasion with some melancholy. Before the game, Zori Brown remarked that, “I am going to miss my amazing teammates and being on the court with my best friends. I will forever cherish the memories I have made playing on this team.”
After Junior Varsity secured a win against the Pembroke Pines Charter Jaguars, the Varsity team took the court. The six starting players shared nervous smiles and special handshakes before receiving Pines Charter’s serve.
Senior Zori Brown (#6) earned the first point for the Raiders with a strong outside hit, effectively setting the stage for what was to come. Over the course of the game, she boasted nine kills and ten digs. Another senior outside hitter, Tameary Wardlaw (#7), received eight serves from the Jaguars.
Malia Brown (#1), wowed with graceful sets and quick dives. Her dynamic power on the court ensured the success of her fellow Lady Raiders surrounding her, contributing six total assists.
Senior middle hitter Kendall Evans (#2) showcased her domination at the net with the most blocks of the game.
Of course, discussing the seniors’ success would not be complete without applauding the player of the match, senior Mikayla Porter (#20). She scored three aces out of her 14 serves, earning a percentage of 92.9%. She also made nine impressive kills and 13 assists, demonstrating her skill in every aspect of the sport.
The seniors were not the only stars of the game. Junior Adriana Medrano (#11) had 14 successful serves with four aces. Another junior Emmy Merhi (#4) utilized her powerful swing and high vertical jump to score nine kills, along with ten total digs.
When junior Hailey Trebbien (#14) scored the game-winning ace, the reign of the volleyball team began, with scores of 25-9, 25-13, 25-11 for the three sets. This victory marks an inspiring beginning of the end for the senior Lady Raiders, and the student body cannot wait to see what is next for them.
Statistics:
https://www.maxpreps.com/games/8-20-2024/volleyball-24/pembroke-pines-charter-vs-st-thomas-aquinas.htm?c=tYxSrecHgEiPzGMM0RcaKA#tab=box-score&schoolid=bd12f619-3d60-413e-a9ef-5742cd4a21bb
Photos: @staraidervb on Instagram
