Varsity team: Kylee VanValkenburg (19), Kelsie Wasem (1) and Chloe Duke (3) are ready to defend. Photo credit: Terri Judd Anderson.
By Tamara Manieri —
OAKHURST — Winner, winner, chicken dinner! On September 20, the Yosemite High school gym was filled with fans of the Lady Badgers volleyball team — and they had a lot to cheer for.
The Yosemite Badgers Varsity team went up against the Liberty High Hawks for a fierce battle. The Hawks are the second team in the North Sequoia League that the Badgers have played. The Badgers overtook the Hawks in three short sets, winning the match.
“My team played well against Liberty,” says Coach Michele Chenowith. “We were able to play different people in different positions and the girls were working well together. I’m excited! We have a big tournament coming up at Clovis North — a Division 1 and 2 tournament and we are ready to go and work hard.” Yosemite High is a Division 3 school.
Varsity team: Sayda Taylor (7), Izzy Peter (4) and Bailey Hullender (17) are ready to receive. Photo credit: Terri Judd Anderson.
Team captain, outside, and middle hitter Sayda Taylor said they “really pulled together as a team. We have really high hopes for this season.”
Team captain, setter/right side hitter Jordyn Jackson, says, “We played really well and we are excited to see how far we can go!”
Right side hitter, Keylee Andersen, said that she “feels her team is playing well, especially with the new girls on the team.”
The Yosemite Badgers Varsity will have their third North Sequoia League game on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at home against Washington Union at 6 p.m. Yosemite and Union are currently tied for the league winning percentage on Maxpreps. That means the battle between the Badgers and the Panthers should be a great game to watch.
Varsity team: Jordyn Jackson (2) with the set going to Keelee Anderson (5). Sayda Taylor (7) and Kaylee Smith (12) are ready to back up the team. Photo credit Terri Judd Anderson.
The Badgers will face off against Chowchilla on Thursday, Sept. 27 at Chowchilla at 6 p.m.
Yosemite’s JV team also scored a win against Liberty in two sets.
The team is coached by Mandy Ades and Kailei Gould.
Ades feels her team is,”showing growth, our hitters are really swinging and we are putting pressure on the other teams to return the ball — and I appreciate that.” Gould adds,” they are really growing and they can only go up from here!”
“Our team played really good, we have been communicating with each other and everyone is really supportive of each other and I couldn’t be happier with my team,” captain and hitter Kayla Truelove expressed.
JV team: Gabby Miller with the block. Faith Manieri, Annalise Greene, Emily Walton, Elsa Smock defending.
“We won the first game pretty easily and in the second game, we let them catch up,” noted captain and setter Faith Manieri. “Then we remembered that have to win.”
“I think we played really great together as a team, we worked hard,” recounts captain and defensive specialist/libero Emily Walton.” We kinda fell apart on the second game and then we pulled together and fought.”
The Yosemite JV team will be hitting the court at home against Washington Union at 5 p.m. on Sept. 25 and will be away on Sept. 27 at Chowchilla taking the court at 5 p.m.
The Yosemite Frosh team also took home a win against local rival Minarets High School.
“We dug deep and pulled off the win in three games,” coach Ryan Madus shares. “Our serve receive has improved greatly.”
JV Team: Alani Oswald with the hit. Elsa Smock, Abby Madus, Emily Walton, Cassidy Miller defending.
Team captain, setter and singer of our national anthem Meagan Woods says they played pretty well.
“Our serves were really good,” Meagan adds. “I feel that our team always tries our best and that is a good thing.”
Team captain and setter Amberlee Pick believes the team has improved a great amount since the beginning of the season. “We’re working really hard to make our goals happen.”
The Frosh team will play at a tournament on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Madera South.
Yosemite High School is part of the Yosemite Unified School District.
Follow Yosemite High Girls Volleyball on Facebook
Interested in volleyball for your girl? Club season is right around the corner. Check out Yosemite Vista Volleyball Club’s website and Facebook for more information. All ages, all skill levels.
Tamara Manieri is the Yosemite Vista Volleyball Club secretary
Varsity team for the National Anthem. Photo Credit: Terri Judd Anderson.
JV Team: Elsa Smock with the hit. Alani Oswald, Faith Manieri, Kayla Truelove,Cassidy Miller, and Abby Madus defending.
Frosh team: Paris Baca with the hit. Amberlee Pick, Erin Pierce, Salem Brewer, Kati Szabadi and Karmen Reeves defending. Photo credit Ryan Madus.
Frosh Team: Parris Baca with the block. Photo Credit: Sage Baca.
