The Girls Varsity Volleyball (GVV) team is gearing up for success in tomorrow’s Homecoming match against Riverdale. 

GVV has been playing better than last year with a 3-3 record so far, Coach Jason Torres said. The team has been preparing for their Homecoming match against the Falcons all season. The expectation is they will play well and win the match, he said. They hope to win over half their games this season and qualify for NYSAlS. So far, small mistakes have been undercutting them, he said. “Our strategy is to play at our full potential, every day.”

Team member Daphne Tsai (11) feels confident going into the homecoming match. “We have had our fair share of wins and losses, but we are determined to win our Homecoming game.”

Homecoming is the team’s chance to shine, Michelle Orloff (11) said. “I’m hoping that we start to win more games this season, and Homecoming can be a really good opportunity for us to get our drive back,” she said. 

Games at Homecoming have a different atmosphere than regular games due to the larger crowds, Tsai said. “It gets us more hype because people are cheering and watching,” she said.

Homecoming allows the team to demonstrate their progress to the greater school community, Ariella Weber (11) said. “We get to showcase our team to the school and play in front of such a large and lively crowd.”

To prepare for the game, the team has been honing different skills, Orloff said. “We are primarily doing drills that target the team’s weaker points like serving and serve receive,” she said. 

Serving is one of many skills the team has been working on. “Serving is important because it is the one part of the game where our team is in complete control,” Weber said.

Some standout players on the team are Jaelah Taylor (12) and Eva Campbell (12), Torres said. “They play hard and come up with big plays at the times we need one, like a big hit, big block, or great save,” he said. Taylor is currently leading the team on hits with 84 this season, and Campbell leads the team with nine solo blocks.

Other strong members include Orloff, who is a great asset on defense and an aggressive attacker, Tsai said. Maddie Kim (11) is playing setter for the first time this season, meaning she hits balls near the net, and despite it being a challenging position, she has done a great job, Tsai said.

The entire team is working hard to play at their full potential, Weber said. “Whether it is playing on the court, or supporting the team from the bench, everybody is contributing.”