With the fall sports season well underway, the Archie Williams High School (AWHS) girls varsity volleyball team played San Rafael High School on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The team volleyed themselves into winning three out of the four sets played. 

The volleyball team played 4 instead of the 5 usual sets during the game. They won the first and second set and lost the third set. Despite this setback, they launched themselves into a win for the fourth set. The scores for the sets were 25-16 for the first, 25-22 for the second, 19-25 for the third, and 25-15 for the fourth.

Coach Lisa Hudson was proud of the players for their perseverance that set them into the win. 

“It was a more challenging match than we had … but everyone rallied together as a team and once we’ve played our game, we dominated,” Hudson said. 

Junior Lauren Barnwell, the team’s libero/defensive specialist, agreed with Hudson. 

“It was the first time this year we’ve had real competition and it was exciting to see our team in action against a team more our level,” Barnwell said.

The varsity volleyball team has had a rewarding season so far as they have set themselves up for wins in almost every game they’ve played. Hudson and the team continued positive encouragement for each other by cheering from the sidelines. The players maintained the same level of support through group hugs after each point was scored, regardless of whether it was scored by them or against them.

“I honestly think that the game was really fun,” Barnwell said.

“Lauren Barnwell did an amazing job serving us back in the third match to win… That’s who I would say is my MVP of the game,” said Hudson. 

However, both Hudson and Barnwell both stressed that the win was gained by a team effort.

“I think everyone who stepped in today played a huge role in winning. It was really fun seeing everyone engaged and fired up,” said Barnwell. “I think this game is just the start to one of our best seasons yet.”