The Arcata Tigers volleyball team battled for a 3-0 win against the McKinleyville Panthers on Tuesday night. This game was a big win for the Tigers because the seniors stepped on the court for their last home game of the season.
“It’s a very positive environment and everyone is friends with each other,” Senior Melanie Luh said when describing their team. Luh has been playing volleyball since 5th grade and has been on varsity since her sophomore year. She finished the night with five kills.
Coach Lori Griffith was extremely proud of her team.
“It was a group effort, all the seniors stepped up,” she said. Senior Audrey Dart led the team with six kills, while senior Nora Talty had three aces.
The other seniors also had a great game with Taya Holmes finishing with 4 kills, Maria Williamson having phenomenal defense, and strong serves from Alessia De Filippo.
The Tigers blew out the Panthers in the first set 25-8. The Tigers then began to fall in the second set due to errors and miscommunication but were able to come back and take the set 26-24. The Tigers then took the third set 25-22.
This senior-heavy team brought many emotions to the players, their families, and their friends. The Tigers will play their final regular season game on Tuesday against the Eureka Loggers at the Jay Willard Gymnasium. In the last meeting between Arcata and Eureka, the Tigers won in four sets.