Baruch’s girls varsity volleyball team is known for having committed, hardworking and persistent athletes. But this season they’ve taken it to a whole new level, winning their games back-to-back earning themselves a spot in the playoffs.
However, during the first round of playoffs, the girls lost 2-1 to Brooklyn Prospect Charter School on Nov. 13, 2024, according to Baruchs’ PSAL Girls Varsity Volleyball Website.
However, despite their loss, many wonder, how have the girls been able to secure each win for the playoffs?
Girls Varsity Volleyball captain, Tina Wu, said, “Well, we’re all pretty harsh on ourselves because of the intense pressure to succeed. But with all our talents combined, we make a pretty neat team.”
Junior, Victoria Kozdra, talks about how her fellow teammates have influenced her.
“Just being in a hard-working environment with athletes who are just as devoted as I am is something I’m grateful for. I feel like we all grew as players because we learned from each other, and I think that was a beautiful thing to witness,” she said.
Compared to last season, captains Wu and Isla Findlay have said the girls practiced two times more for a total of four to five times a week with additional scrimmages or a practice play between two squads.
When asked, the girls expressed their thoughts about how they felt about their season.
Freshman Paula Szewc said, “Even though I wasn’t on the team last year, the energy and vibes I feel from my teammates is honestly insane. Even though we didn’t win that game against Brooklyn Prospect, it was still a good match and really fun.”
Junior, Nicholette Lopez, shares her hopes for next season.
“Personally, I’m not upset about our loss. We had an amazing season and I’m so proud of our team because we did try our best. Hopefully next season when we play again, we’ll be able to secure our win, but right now I’m just happy I’m a part of the team,” she said.
Kozdra added onto Lopez’s comment, “It’s okay we lost. We aren’t always going to win everything in life, and this is an example of that. We win some, we lose some; it’s as simple as that. I think we all should be proud of the progress we made together, and I look forward to another season with my girls,” Kozdra said.
It’s no secret that the girls are committed to their sport and have been putting in an immense amount of effort and work. However, gradually with time, hopefully next year the girls can make it farther into the playoffs.
