The Pali Girls Varsity Volleyball team lost in their CIF Regional final match to Central Valley Christian High School on Nov. 19.
Led by junior Lucy Neilson and senior Hazel Irving, the Dolphins finished the season with a 30-12 record.
The team opened their season during the first week of school with a straight-set victory over Eagle Rock High School.
Neilson has played as a libero on the Varsity Girls Volleyball team since her freshman year. She discussed the team’s hardships at the start of the season, and how they were partially due to the high number of new players they had this year.
“I think that we had a kind of tough time in the beginning of the season learning how to play with each other because it was a super young team,” Neilson said. “There were a lot of new girls, and I think it was impressive how fast we turned that around.”
Once the season began, the team quickly grew close, Neilson said.
“It’s not just all about volleyball, and all the girls are actually friends and enjoy being together even though it’s such a commitment,” she said.
Junior Isabella Drake, a first-year varsity outside hitter, corroborated Neilson’s statement and shared how tightly knit their team grew to be.
“My favorite part of playing volleyball at Pali is definitely the amazing group of girls in the program and how many amazing friendships have come from it,” she said.
Third-year pin hitter and junior Gabriella Bartle said that the team’s bond goes deeper than just on the court.
“I think the girls are really great girls, and they truly make the experience one of a kind,” she said.
Throughout the season, the team faced a wide range of competitors, including Venice High School, one of the team’s longtime rivals. In the 2024 City Semi-Final game, Venice High School defeated Pali three sets to one.
“After Venice, people were feeling a little bit discouraged, just because we really wanted that game,” Bartle said. “And then I think after losing that game, the mindset got a bit less uptight and was like might as well play hard with this team for as long as we can and see where it goes.”
The team ended their season with four players making the 2024 All City Open Division team: Hazel Irving, Annabelle Refnes, Tulah Block, and Lucy Neilson.
The final game of the team’s season took place on Nov. 19 at Central Valley Christian High School for the CIF Regional Final.
Despite the straight-set loss, team members reflected on how they plan to improve for the upcoming year.
“My goal for next season is to improve my overall skills and have a winning and memorable senior season,” Drake said. “I’m looking forward to being on a team with some of my best friends again. I’m also excited for the competition that comes with the Pali season.”
“I think we’re going to try and set a precedent at the beginning of the year that we’re going to work harder than we did last year,” Bartle added. “We’re more serious about it this year.”
Neilson shared a hopeful perspective on the end of the season.
“We’re super excited to just go out with a bang and hopefully have our best season yet,” she said.
