This year’s Selma High Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team has a record of 13-9. With their new mentor, Coach Lopez, the team is ecstatic about a fun year, hopeful of wins, and anticipating this year’s Senior Night.
The girls start their week off with an occasional six to eight practice on Mondays, then follow with four to six in the afternoon practice up until Thursdays and Saturday mornings. Although it may seem rough to have such a busy schedule, Coach Lopez makes the practices enjoyable, despite all the hard work.
“Practice includes lots of fundamentals and game day preparation. It also includes music because the girls always get more energetic with it,” explains Coach Lopez.
This is Lopez’s first year on the job for varsity. She comes from a family of dedicated coaches and she wishes to follow in their footsteps. However, being the new varsity coach can have its cons.
“Being the new varsity coach is both a pressure and a privilege! But, pressure is a privilege,” adds Lopez.
Lopez hopes to teach the girls the responsibility that comes with the game, as well as take accountability for their possible lack of commitment. Her goal is to ultimately make the team more competitive when in-game time, so they are able to defeat difficult teams both mentally and physically.
Although the Lady Bears have a good score going, they don’t believe they do enough. The girls agree that communication on the court is an important factor, especially on game days.
“I would like to have better communication on the court and overall just gain trust with each other,” expresses junior Valeria Quezada, who plays right side. Her job is to score points by blocking, hitting, and tipping balls. Quezada has been playing volleyball since the fifth grade and doesn’t think of stopping anytime soon. As an individual, she hopes to perfect her ability to think in pressured situations and make quick, smart decisions in the game.
Even with their minor setbacks, communication will be no trouble for these ladies as they all appreciate one another and love the bond created thanks to the game.
“The team has created such a strong bond and there’s always good energy. They make my day better when I’m around them,” says Quezada.
Their teammates, as well as the sport itself, is what truly motivates the Lady Bears to keep pushing.
“The thing I love most about volleyball is that it has become a huge outlet for me,” explains senior Jayde Caldera. “It forces me to take my mind off all other things and just play the game that I have loved for so long.” Caldera is the setter of the team. Her position requires her to successfully set one of the three hitters in the front row, and allow them to spike the ball to the other side, gaining a point.
As their bond grows, so does the anticipation for senior night. This night is special as seniors are highlighted and admired for the hard work and dedication they have implemented into the sport.
“We have six seniors leaving us and each game is played like it’s our last,” says Coach Lopez. She makes sure to motivate the seniors and the underclassmen by training them to acknowledge the fact that they represent their city.
“I am most excited for our senior night because it’s really going to show how far we have come and it’s going to be a positive memory that all of us seniors will remember and can look back on,” acknowledged Caldera.
“I am excited to bond with my team this year and spend time with my favorite seniors before they leave.” added junior Kennedi Carassco, whose position is the libero. Her job is being the main passer and getting most of the hard digs that approach the back row.
Overall, the Lady Bears practice and play like it’s their last, showing hard dedication in every spike, set, and block that is made. Volleyball is a team sport, which is something they all strongly believe in, and hope to show that acknowledgment on game day, ready to win.
“My expectations for the team are to play for each other,[and] believe in one another.” concludes Coach Lopez.
