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Volleyball season is beginning. This Thursday the 5th, one of the Bruins’ first games of the season was played here at our very own Blacksburg High School against the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers.
I arrived at the game a couple minutes late, and speed-walked into the building. Fortunately for me, the teams were simply warming up, with pump-up, inspirational pop beats emanating through the gym and permeating every surface. And so, I sat down, and waited for the game to start. As it began, Blacksburg took an early lead. Over in the stands beside me, a crowd of students stood and cheered, filled with pep and school spirit. There are typically five sets in a game of volleyball, meaning the first to win three is the victor. Each set is played until one team or the other scores 25 points, in which case they win that set. As for this game, the first set was relatively close, although the Bruins maintained a respectable lead the whole time, winning the set.
The crowd cheered and the music played and I could feel myself getting swept up in the fervor of it all. I rarely watch sports, but I was starting to see the appeal.
Set two started with an early lead from the Cavaliers, a lead they maintained for the rest of the set. The Cavaliers won the second set with a massive lead over the Bruins.
The third set was the most evenly matched yet. The Cavaliers took the first lead but Blacksburg was on their tails, gaining ground. Bam, 21:21, the score was tied. A timeout was called. 24:22, Cavaliers’ favor. I leaned forward and the crowd leaned with me, on the edge of our seats. 25:22, the Cavaliers won the set.
I said the third set was the most evenly matched, but the fourth set was even closer. Blacksburg took the first few points, establishing an early lead, but Botetourt wasn’t far behind. If they wanted any chance of winning this thing, the Bruins needed to win this set, and it looked as if they just might. The upset started near the middle of the set,when the Cavaliers began to claw their way back into the lead. 14:13, Cavaliers, but that lead was quickly tied by the Bruins. Anytime one team moved ahead, the other would be right there to tie them. It was truly exhilarating, watching those two teams neck and neck like that.
22:20, Cavaliers. This is it. 24:22, Cavaliers. It all comes down to this. 24:23, Cavaliers. The moment of truth. 25:23.The Cavaliers win, and the crowd goes wild.
As a student of Blacksburg High School, it would be impossible to say that I did not feel disappointed about the outcome of the game, but as Coach Madison Webb put it, “...we’ve got room to grow and improve, but I’m still super excited. [...] I think we fought hard today [and] we’re ready to go.”
Written by Miles Johnson
Photography by Elayna Weatherspoon, Daxson Clay
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