On Nov. 6, the girls’ varsity volleyball team faced off against the Carondelet High School Cougars in a high-stakes North Coast Section playoff match. With both teams coming in determined to finish in fifth place, the scoreboard quickly proved otherwise as the match quickly turned into a dominant display for Redwood.
Carondelet started off strong in the first set, opening the match 3-0. But this only added fuel to Redwood’s tenacity, as sophomore Maddy Wagner had two kills in a row. Eventually, the Giants took the lead at 9-8 and never looked back.
Senior Hanna Smith was a standout player and a key contributor to the team’s success this year. The University of California Irvine commit had numerous blocks at the net.
Aided by freshman Milan Hendrickson, who added multiple spikes along with Wagner’s decisive strike to the back corner, the Giants concluded the first set with a victory of 25-13.
The second set, unlike the first, was a battle throughout as both teams exchanged points continuously. Just as the Cougars had found a sense of momentum, Hendrickson answered with a powerful strike, tying the game 8-8.
Redwood trailed 13-16 but kept pace, leveling the score 18-18. With two failed conversions over the net from the Giants, momentum leans towards the Cougars, tying the score 21-21. However, after a Carondelet timeout, the Giants surged with four straight points, winning the set 25-21, with a strong serve from Hendrickson sealing the set.
Redwood carried its momentum into the third set, as the Giants started with a dominant 7-0 lead. They quickly put the finishing touch on the Cougars, extending the lead to 21-9 with powerful blocks and strikes from Smith and Hendrickson en route to securing a 25-10 victory in the set, completing Redwood’s commanding win.
Sophomore Logan Leverte contributed serves throughout the game, showcasing her offensive skills. Leverte notes that the team’s success is reflected in its atmosphere.
“It’s about the culture of our team and how we pull through together through mistakes,” Leverte said.
Sophomore Katie Lazzareschi, the starting setter for the team, played a pivotal role with multiple sets to Wagner and Hendrickson. Lazzareschi feels that there is no surprise behind the team’s success.
“We’re hyped all the time, and energy is so high. It’s such a good vibe on the court,” Lazzareschi said.
With an outstanding team effort, the Giants celebrated a well-fought victory, securing 5th place in the North Coast Section.
