On Tuesday September 8, the girls varsity volleyball team started off a new year of Lions’ sports when they took to the court against Grace Brethren.

The Lions started out well and dealt with the Grace Brethren team by going out to a quick two sets to none lead. Things got closer in the third set, but a couple of key late serves by senior Allie Wolff helped the Lions hold off the opposition and led them to their first victory of the season.

“We got the first game out of the way and from then on we knew that we can really improve as a team and we knew more concretely what we have to work on [in practice],” junior Avital Krifcher said. “We know what we did well and what we didn’t do well, and from there on out we know what we need to do to be a great team.”

Last season, the team went 7-3 and lost in the semifinal game of the playoffs. Last years’ team was full of seniors and their skill will be missed on the court this year.

This season the Lions are very young and have a lot of first time players at the varsity level. Of the eleven players on the team, 9 are new to the varsity level. The team consists of 1 sophomore, 4 juniors and 6 seniors.

Krifcher is one of multiple new varsity members who is looking to positively impact the team. With the help of her, and many other new players, the team hopes to reach their ultimate goal of winning the division title, something the girls varsity volleyball squad hasn’t accomplished since 2009.