Volleyball: Rush’s Girls’ Setting Up for Victory?

Hard work and dedication is hard to find nowadays, however The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush’s very own varsity girls’ volleyball team spikes that opinion into the ground!

Alana Rodgers

Isabella Carfagno

Throughout the month of October, the girls put their sweat, blood, and tears into competing against other powerhouse schools in fierce competition to become the dominant team in the public school league. Even though we didn’t score high this time, we fared exceptionally well against Carver High School, the Science Leadership Academy, and Masterman. The Rush Arts’ varsity girls’ volleyball team set the bar high for next season with their incredible defensive and offensive plays!

Time Out!

When it comes to defense, the girls become an impenetrable wall! Players Jaidyn Baker (#5), Megan Lackey (#14), Alexandria Hermes (#12), Kylah Perez (#7), and Midori Rainford (#4) consistently used their stellar height to its full potential by blocking anything that came over the net! In the rare cases where “the wall” wasn’t enough, Deborah Rivera (#3), was steadily covering the team’s blind spots with her quick reflexes and powerful returns!

In terms of the offensive plays, the team’s setter, Isabella Carfagno (#2), was the lead conductor and playmaker! Without her sharp eye and her swift sets, the team wouldn’t have an offense to use. Paired with relentless spikers, Alexandria Hermes, Midori Rainford and Jaidyn Baker, the girls were able to successfully score hard on the opposing teams using monstrous spikes and slick feints!

And when the moment was right, Alice Vaynblat (#13), “the pinch server” was subbed in to serve the ball, literally, because it was a pinch! Vaynblat is known throughout her career for racking up points for the team through serving, so when she is subbed in, you already know the opposing team attempts to desperately adjust their defense in hopes of stopping the inevitable.

Unfortunately, the final score in the final set against Carver High School was 25-22, in Carver High School’s favor. Also, the final score in the final set against Masterman was 25-23, in Masterman’s favor.

Our girls brought skill, heart, and determination to every game and that should be honored. The girls never gave up and did everything in their power to take the win. Every game was extremely close, but unfortunately during this season, the red ribbon of fate was not tied in our team’s favor.