The Falcons chances of making a run in the playoffs are officially over, as the season closes out with the team’s loss against Independence in the Region Quarterfinals. Although their season has come to a close, with the team being eliminated from playoffs, the Falcons have accomplished a lot, finishing third in the district and earning recognition for four of their players. Senior outside hitter Taylor Hansen, junior libero Molly Gardner, senior middle hitter Naomi Grundy and senior libero Ellie Roed were selected for the 2024 All Potomac District Volleyball Team, cementing their reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Junior middle hitter Michelle Herbert mentions how she feels about the season ending, sharing, “I can’t believe it’s gone by so fast. Varsity sports are so tiring, and everyone was so tired and ready for a break, but I think we’re all just so sad because we didn’t want it to end. It feels like tryouts were just yesterday. I’m hoping I stay close with a bunch of the girls now that [the season’s] over.”
The Falcons faced the Independence Tigers in the District Quarterfinals, falling 3-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The Falcons struggled in the first two sets, but showed their competitive side in the third, nearly taking control after a strong rally led by Hansen’s two aces and an impressive attack percentage of .600 from Grundy. Briar Woods briefly held the lead in the third set but couldn’t hold off Independence, who made a late push to close out the set and secure the win. Despite the loss, the Falcons strong showing in the third set highlighted their resilience and determination.
“I think in some games, there’s one player who really stands out and is having a really awesome day, but nobody did that day, and it was more playing individually than playing as a team. Coach always tells us we have to out-team the other team, and I think we weren’t doing that. We gave them a good fight when we played them, but the communication wasn’t there, and they were targeting where they knew we would set a lot,” stated Herbert.
Briar Woods’ playoff run came to a heartbreaking end with a 3-0 loss to Independence in the Region Quarterfinals on Monday, Nov. 4. While Gardner recorded 18.5 digs, key performances also came from Roed, who tallied 4.5 aces, and Hansen, who led the offense with 10 kills. Throughout the match, the Falcons were challenged with consistency, especially in serve receive, which kept them from building momentum. Although their season is over now, Briar Woods’ determination and effort were evident from start to finish in the postseason.
Head Coach Riggio comments on how he feels about the team’s record at the end of the season, saying, “it’s fair. We’re [ending the season] in third and Riverside is definitely the number one team. Independence is a strong second, so [against them] we got to see where we stacked. They beat us, but for me what really matters [isn’t the numbers,] it’s what we see in each other. Everyone had to learn and make adjustments, and most of them did that well.”
“It’s very bittersweet and melancholy. I’m excited for a chance to get some rest because it’s a lot to be practicing every day for a couple hours, weightlifting and playing in games, and it’s mentally a lot too. Everyone on the team has such a love for the game though, so as much as we’re ready for it, none of us wanted it to end. Our last couple of weeks playing together was awesome, and we just put everything out there [on the court],” expressed Herbert.
As the winter season begins, the playoffs are still in full swing, with teams vying for a spot in the state tournament. Independence advanced to the Region Finals after a 3-2 win over Massaponax in the Region Semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 7. With that victory, they now face Riverside tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 12, in a highly anticipated matchup for the region title.
