On Oct. 29 the girls’ varsity volleyball team traveled to State College to compete in playoffs. The team went into the game with their heads held high, prepared to work with one another throughout the whole game. Altoona lost 0-3 allowing State College to win the District VI Championship for the 14th year in a row.
“I feel like we can accomplish a lot if we communicate with each other and as a whole we could have gotten a lot farther,” junior Megan Kelly said.
When playing in such an intense game, the players make sure their heads are in the game, ready to work with one another making sure not to get thrown off by the other team.
“Amidst a game where the stakes are high, it’s important to have mental toughness. Emotions can drive you to do crazy things. A volleyball player must still be able to communicate plays, patterns and be able to read arm swings, while being able to let go of mistakes and encourage your teammates,” senior Karinna Wolfe said. “A lot must go on and to think soberly is crucial to grand moments.”
The team along with their coach felt they gave everything they could at the game. The team previously went against State College two times, losing at both games.
“We lost in three. The first time we played them, we lost in four. The second time we played them, we lost again. Everybody likes to throw around a cliché that it’s difficult to beat the team three times, and to a degree that does hold some merit,” coach John Saboe said
The girls spent many days in practice preparing for this game. State College won all three games 25-17, 25-13 and 25-10
“The only thing that I probably would have asked for from my team was to execute at a higher level, at a better level,” Saboe said. “But our kids gave everything that they had. You know, they worked, they worked their tails off all season, doing a fantastic job in the practice gym to be prepared for game situations. And I felt like we were ready to come in. We were ready to play. It’s that idea of rising to the occasion, and taking on an opponent that you are very, very familiar with, and likewise, they’re familiar with you. And it’s a rivalry. State College is always a rivalry with Altoona, and it’s working to achieve at the highest level, to win that district championship and move into state playoffs.”
The State College game was the final game of the season for the Girls Volleyball team. State College ended their regular season with just two losses and a regular season Mid-Penn Championship. State College will play North Catholic in the PIAA state playoff game.
“We had fantastic leadership all season which I was very pleased with. You hate to lose a game. We fell a little bit short,” Saboe said
