On October 10th, 2023, the Benton Harbor High School volleyball team went against Godwin High School's JV team. The Benton Harbor Tigers fought hard and lost 25-21 in the first set and 25-22 in the second set. This was a very interesting game for my team and me, since it was the first volleyball game we were able to play since the season started. This game was a battle that pushed us to our limits, but we refused to back down. Our first game taught the team the true meaning of teamwork and perseverance. This match against Godwin tested our ability to work together as a team, but sadly the match ended in defeat.
When we arrived at the school, we were able to come in and start warming up as a team. Our spirits were so pumped as the background music played, and we waited for the clock to hit 5:30, so we could start. As the game began, our team was filled with high energy and determined to take home the victory. We took the court with confidence in our hearts. We relied on the skills and the strategies we learned in practice for the first start of the match. The opponents we faced were very competitive, but that did not intimidate us.
As the game progressed, the pressure kept building up. We seemed to become more frustrated with ourselves, but that didn’t stop us. With every pass, set, and serve we were able to learn from our mistakes for the future games. We were able to get a lead during the middle of the first match, but somehow our opponents caught up. Godwin started to match us point for point, showing off some serious teamwork skills. This is where the team and I started to worry, but we were still determined to win. This game taught us that volleyball is a team sport that requires everyone to give their best effort.
In the second set of Benton Harbor High School vs. Godwin High School, Benton Harbor unfortunately fell short, losing by only three points. It was a tough battle, but we did not give up. Despite losing, we learned from this loss to work as a team and to take our practice more seriously. However, we were able to show determination and fought hard until the end of the match. We displayed sportsmanship to the opposing team and congratulated them once the set ended. The game was filled with high tension moments and adrenaline coming from every player. Even though we weren't able to take home the victory, everyone had fun playing our first game together as a team.
I was able to interact with two of my teammates to get their voice on the game between Benton Harbor High School and Godwin High School. Nevaeh Williams states, “In my opinion, I think that our team did really well for our first game together. I think we should practice moving our feet and calling the ball.” Monteonna Duckett states, “I think that the game against Godwin went okay. I was able to have good serves, sets, passes, etc. The team overall did a great job for our first game together. The only issue that our team had was some teammates being lazy and not giving their full effort.”
To conclude, the JV game between Benton Harbor High School and Godwin High School was incredible for both teams. We were both able to show skill and determination on the court. This was a game filled with excitement and memorable moments that will be cherished by many players, and even coaches. There was so much improvement our team showed from the first practice, to the first game. We were only three points away from victory, which makes the defeat harder to swallow. Although the outcome wasn’t in our favor, our team took pride in our strong performance and will use it as motivation for future matches.
