On Saturday, November 18th, 2023, our Glendale High School girls varsity volleyball team went to Santiago Canyon College to compete against Marin Academy in the 2023 CIF Division IV State Championships. In the end, our girls pulled out the victory, beating the Wildcats with a final of three sets to one.
Our volleyball team has had an incredible season this year, with a 33-game win streak since the end of September, and a 40-6 overall record! They won the MACES Tournament in September, and they finished in first place at the Sylmar Tournament in October. They finished off their season in third place in the CIF-SS Pacific league, and they were the CIF Southern Section Division 6 Champions and the Division 4 State Southern Region and State Champions!
Senior Arianna Vargas, a volleyball team captain, had an incredible experience during the postseason. “[There were] a lot of strong emotions,” she said. “We were happy to be there, but at the same time, we were fighting to not want to lose. Every game we went in there, and we just played with everything, knowing that this could be our last game.”
During the CIF playoff games, the GHS drill and cheer teams both came to cheer on our volleyball squad. Our staff members, students and administrators also came to show their support.
The final game of the state championships was definitely unforgettable for our players. Aleina Manaois, a junior captain who attends Clark Magnet High School, stated that the game was “very thrilling”.
“It just made me realize the reality of it all and how we were literally playing for a state title,” Aleina recalled. “The environment throughout the team was nothing but support, even when times got tough.” The players, coaches, and supporters all put in the time and effort it took to get to where they ended up, and obviously, it all paid off.
The GHS girls volleyball players hope to move up in their position in the Pacific League next year, and they look forward to another exciting season in 2024. There are very high hopes for next year, especially as the team is still young and there is great potential to grow.
Keep that ball up, Nitros!
