![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
Varsity girls volleyball loses 3-1 to Menlo High School in CCS Semifinals
As the audience in the background cheer for the girls, they come together in celebration after they score a point against the opponents. The girls lost 1-3 in CCS Semifinals to long time rival Menlo High School.
November 19, 2015
Varsity girls volleyball lost the CCS Semifinals to long time rival Menlo on Wednesday at Notre Dame Belmont with a score of 1-3, ending their season at 19-9 overall and 9-1 in league.
With a strong start, the team won with a score of 25-23 in the first set. The girls lost the next three sets, with scores of 22-25, 18-25 and 18-25, respectively.
Doreene Kang (12), one of the captains, reflected on how pleased she was of the team despite their loss.
“I’m proud of how our team played,” she said. “We played really hard and I was glad to see some people really step up and lead the team this game.”
Dan Molin, the athletics director at the Upper School, commented about the good leadership that the three seniors have shown as captains of the team.
“With any varsity team, good senior leadership is very, very important,” he said. “It’s solid leadership skills that these girls have brought that are going to be passed down to the younger underclassmen and it’s just going to perpetuate; next year’s leaders are going to come in and be solid leaders as well.”
The girls previously lost to Menlo when they played against them on Oct. 22.
As it was the last game of the season, many of the team members were saddened by the fact that they would never play with their senior team members again.
“It’s really sad because I connected with all the seniors even more after moving up, even after the one week I was with them,” Tiffany Shou (10) said. “It’s really sad to see us lose because I know we’re such a good team. Jackie, Do and Shannon, I love you all, don’t forget me–but you guys probably will, so it’s alright. Just keep doing you.”
This is especially heartbreaking for head coach Theresa “Smitty” Smith, who has taught the seniors ever since they started playing in freshman year.
“I felt so bad for them because this is it for high school; they’ll go on and play in college but this is it for their high school career, so it’s hard,” she said. “I’m so proud of them. They’re great human beings besides volleyball players; they’re really good people, they care about people, they take care of people, they were good leaders. I love them and I’m going to miss them.”
![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-600x397.jpg)
