It has been three decades since the CESJDS varsity girls volleyball team won the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) championship, their last win being the 1994 season. On Nov. 4, after winning the season title, the Lions swept the Washington International School (WIS) Red Devils, beating them in three sets and bringing home the championship banner for the first time in decades.
The Lions came in knowing that this game would be a challenge, as both games they had played against WIS in the regular season had lasted five sets, and they only had won one of the two games.
“We sort of felt grateful to have that loss because that really humbled us going into this game,” junior and varsity girls volleyball captain Rachel Fagin said. “I think we came in with the mindset that we’ve changed a lot since we lost that game, and we’ve adapted and learned more who we are as not just [as] players, but as a team united. And so coming into this, we weren’t necessarily scared, but we took the advice of coach, and we transferred that nervousness, and realized that’s really just the same thing as being super excited for something.”
The Lions started the first set strong, taking a 15-9 lead before the Red Devils called a time out. After this timeout, the Red Devils began to catch up, and for the rest of the set the teams were within a point or two of each other, alternating who was winning.
Most of the Lion’s points in this set were scored off kills. The Lions won the first set 25-23 after a long rally to tie them up with WIS, followed by an ace and another successful serve.
“When the other team started fighting back, we held our ground, we didn’t start getting in our heads, we didn’t start bickering amongst each other,” head coach Juan Alcivar said. “We were all one unit. No matter what the score was, we were one unit.”
The second set was similar to the first, beginning with two aces from the Lions. WIS was ahead most of this set, however after a push by the Lions including a consecutive block and two aces by sophomore Jordana Dauber, the Lions took the lead, starting a push to secure them the set.
Immediately after these three points, WIS scored two consecutive points, tying the score, and leading JDS to call a timeout. However, in the end of the set, the Lions came back from a deficit, winning 25-23. According to senior captain Neely Shemony, the team was able to come back because of their mentality.
“I think that [it] was probably the best game in terms of mental aspect, because that’s something we’ve struggled with a lot this season,” Shemony said. “We struggled with getting in our own heads, making mistakes and then just letting that affect the rest of our game. And [this game] we just didn’t do that. And that’s what helped us win: we kept clear minds, strong minds, we moved on from mistakes very quickly.”
In the third set, WIS started out stronger, leading 7-4 until a timeout. After two aces by junior Ruby Kotok, the Lions took the lead, and maintained it throughout the remainder of the set. On two separate occasions, junior captain Ellie Rosenthal-Strisik had a successful dig or serve, WIS called a timeout, but to no avail as the Lions kept the pressure on WIS, and won the last set 25-16.
“To be honest, it was the best feeling that I’ve ever felt before,” Shemony said. “…I just think that going out on a win, on that championship win, with the people that I love playing with, with an amazing coach and all my friends, was the best possible way to end [my volleyball career]. And just the best feeling. I was crying yesterday, that’s how exciting it was for me.”
In addition to the team’s victory, Fagin also received tournament MVP. Fagin credits her teammates, Rosenthal-Strisik and her sister Leah Fagin, playing the fundamental positions of libero and setter respectively, to helping her achieve this honor.
“It’s crazy knowing that I’m the MVP, but I also think that I couldn’t have gone here, I couldn’t even have had the opportunity to get the kills that led me to this position without the players who really help us out and the entire team as well,” Fagin said.
According to Alcivar, the team worked well together this game, something that Shemony says they have been working on throughout the season. While this victory was exciting, Alcivar is excited for what comes next.
“To me, I’m already thinking about next year,” Alcivar said. “It’s great. I’m happy. We’ll celebrate tonight, but tomorrow, back to work.”
