The Falcons’ JV Volleyball team has wrapped up their season with a solid 9-8 record, finishing just above .500. The team has a lot to be proud of, including their consistency in improving throughout the season and their teamwork and communication on the court. With several close matches and strong individual performances, including standout contributions from players like sophomore setters Raegan Watson and Olivia Hicks, Briar Woods demonstrated resilience and growth, creating a strong foundation for future volleyball seasons.
On Monday, Oct. 7, the Falcons went up against the Heritage Pride on a two-game losing streak but quickly found their rhythm, shutting them out 2-0. Briar Woods dominated the first set 25-16 and held on for a hard-fought 25-23 victory in the second set. The win ended their losing streak and gave the team a much-needed boost as they moved forward in the season against more challenging opponents like Riverside and Potomac Falls, teams that have consistently been tough competition in the district.
“Some of my takeaways from the Heritage game were that we have to be ready for anything to come over because they were very much a ‘just get the ball over and in’ team so we just had to be prepared for it to come over in 1 or 2 [touches],” commented Watson.
On Monday, Oct. 21, Briar Woods entered their match against Lighridge on a one-game losing streak, hoping to bounce back with a strong performance against a formidable opponent. Briar Woods took the first set 27-25 in a highly contested battle but struggled in the following two sets, falling 25-10 in the second and 15-12 in the third. Despite their efforts, the Falcons came up short, losing the match and falling 2-1 to the Lightridge Bolts.
Watson shares her thoughts on the team’s game against Lightridge, saying, “[in] the Lightridge game, [I learned that] you can’t keep your mistakes with you, you just [have] to let them go. In my opinion, that was one of the best games we played all season because we worked really well as a team and we talked the whole time, even if we ended up losing in the end.”
The Falcons entered their final game of the season on another two-game losing streak but came out strong against Independence, securing a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Briar Woods won the first set 26-24, showing great poise and determination. The second set proved more challenging, as the Falcons fell 25-15 to the Tigers. In the third set, however, the Falcons bounced back with a 15-12 win to claim the match. With this victory, the team ended their season on a high note, exhibiting the grit and teamwork needed to finish strong.
“Everyone was sad that the season was over, and we all really wanted to win. We brought that with us into the game and ended up winning in the end. I think for that game, [we had] to [learn to] communicate about everything because even with the balls that seem obvious that it’s someone’s, you still have to talk about it because everyone should be on the same page all the time,” explained Watson.
Watson reflects on the Falcons’ season now over, mentioning, “this season, I feel like a lot more of my friends from my grade were on the team, so I was able to become closer with people that I would spend the next couple of years with. We were all really tight with each other after just about two weeks of playing together, which is something that isn’t that common. I think that our team is a family [now], because throughout the season, we would hang out a lot after games and talk to one another during practices in order to become closer.”
