Volleyball: A season of growth — and a lot of fun

Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School’s volleyball season came to a close with successes that had nothing to do with their win-loss records.

Sixth-graders had fun learning the game, and, true to Catalina’s athletics philosophy, every student got equal playing time. The seventh-grade girls team had two first-time coaches who grew along with their players, and the Cougars ended the season far ahead of where they were at the start. The seventh- and eighth-grade boys team played strong, finishing third in the league and making the playoffs.

The eighth-grade girls team had 23 players, some of them first-timers, and their improvement over the course of the season was a big confidence builder. “Even though the wins weren’t there, they had a blast,” says Lower and Middle School Athletic Director Barry Panes. “Team bonding is what it’s all about, and we were successful at that part.”

See photos from the season on SmugMug.