by Abdul Bah

Staff Writer

The Hammond Volleyball team is having a promising, fantastic, and determined season. They have 5 wins and 9 losses. They are 4th in the 2A West II conference with playoffs on the way soon. We will have to see who their possible matchup will be against in the first round.

A key moment of their season was against Northeast. They won 3-0 with a lovely performance from every single player on the team. It was a fantastic game between both teams, but the team came out strong, which led to their dominant display.

Another key moment of their season came in a game against Francis Scott Key High School. The game was utter domination with a 3-0 win. Key player Iman Akewusola had 17 kills and 14 digs and led the team to victory.

Team Captain Khloe Winston said,  “ Iman played a very great game, and we dominated offensively and defensively. Hopefully, with this win, we can feel confident going into playoffs.”

The team is coming together, and their captains, Khloe Winston and Maddie Fauteux, are phenomenal leaders and are leading the team towards victory and playoffs. Their communication skills, hard work, and dedication show on the court every single game.

Coach Taylor Gibbons has shown great coaching skills throughout the season. With upcoming playoffs, she is setting her team up for victory, building player character, and setting up the team for success in their upcoming playoff game.

Senior Mang Singh, a key player, had some words to say about Coach Gibbons: “ Our coach pushes us to be the best version of ourselves we can be. She has more confidence in us than we do sometimes and is always willing to listen and work with you.”

The team is coming together and is looking forward to a deep playoff run. Possibly to go all the way and win states for the first time since the year 2008.

Last year’s loss against River Hill left the team disappointed and distraught after their season came to an end. Losing the 1st round impacted them and left seniors in tears. Returning players and players who made varsity this year are looking to jump over that hurdle and get a game at the regional semi-final.

This year, they want revenge and are striving to be great. The team is amping up and is preparing for any team they may have to face in their conference.

The Bears are looking forward to an away game for their first playoff game. They are looking at a possible game against Long Reach High School, Southern High School, or Wilde Lake High School. A win against either of these teams gives them a matchup either against River Hill High School or Glenelg High School at the regional semi-final.

The whole team is working extremely hard in practices and is displaying great signs of a playoff-ready team. All players and Coach Gibbons have great belief in each other and know what it takes to win. With leaders like Khloe Winston and Maddie Fauteux, the team is able to trust their key senior captains and knows they have belief in them.