Arcata Varsity volleyball jogs out of the wrestling room, their sneakered feet hitting the gym floor. Stretch. Warm up. Hitting lines, each girl swinging arm and palm, sending the ball rushing to the floor on the other side of the court. Girls diving to the ground, their bodies colliding with the hard court. Fingertips stretching above the net, reaching for what comes over.
Saturday, September 13th, the Arcata Volleyball Junior Varsity (JV) and Varsity competed in the 50th annual Arcata Invitational Volleyball Tournament (AIVT). JV played on the McKinleyville High (MHS) campus, while Varsity played in the Arcata gym. Teams competed in pool play to establish rankings based on a win-loss record for the single elimination bracket play in the afternoon.
Arcata beat their opponent Hoopa High 25 to 9 in the first set and 25-5 the second set. Then, they defeated Fort Bragg 25-22 the first set, and 25-20 the second.
At the MHS gym, JV beat McKinleyville varsity but lost to Orlando, Roseland Prep and Fort Bragg.
“They improved a lot, and it will really help them for [their] Tournament [next] Saturday,” Coach Laurie Griffith said.
During AHS Varsity’s first set against Saint Vincent de Paul, AHS Varsity won 25-9. When the score of the second set reached 23-24, Saint Vincent pulling ahead, senior libero Josie Cunningham dislocated her knee during play. After passing a ball, her leg buckled from the angle. She yelled from the floor that she dislocated her knee.
Her mother, Margie Cunningham, her teammates Pearl Smith (outside hitter, #5) and Harper Appy (setter, #2), and close friend senior Mia Nannizzi joined her on the court.
Griffith, physical therapist Phoebe Smith, and nurse Sarah Battle worked to see what they could do. Cunningham’s knee was stabilized with various pieces of cloth as the gym of people waited for the ambulance.
The crowd spoke in hushed tones. Arcata girls huddled in the hallway leading to the side door of the gym. Orland, a tight grouping of blue jerseys under the senior banners displayed in the opposite corner. Hoopa High participated in a prayer circle with Arcata, supporting the girls crying for Cunningham.
About 10 or 15 minutes later, she was loaded onto a stretcher and taken from the building. Arcata varsity watched with puffy red eyes and tear-stained wet faces as their teammate left the gymnasium, the space echoing with the sound of applause.
Saint Vincent’s team walked past the volleyball net, past Arcata’s side, and the girls offered to lead a prayer for Josie. Griffith expressed wishes for Josie to keep her strength and sent the girls to warm up.
The teams were given two minutes. Sophomore Karely Ruiz stepped in to play libero and helped lead the team to defeat Saint Vincent in their second set with no errors, 26-24, confirming their seat in the bracket.
In bracket play, losing results in elimination. Their first bracket game was against Roseland Prep., who they beat in two sets, 25-15 and 25-20. Their second bracket game, against Yreka, was close with a first set of 29-31 Arcata, and a second that led them to a win at 25-9.
To encourage her teammates before the championship, senior outside hitter Nora Brumbaugh said, “[We just have to play] smart tips and crazy hits.” Brumbaugh had 37 kills (play ending hits) and six aces (serves the other team could not receive).
The championship game of the tournament was between Arcata and Orland. Arcata lost the first set 25-10. During the second set, sophomore and right side hitter Betty Miles rolled her ankle and could no longer play. While she iced her ankle, #12 senior Lucy Deiker subbed in. Arcata lost the championship 24-26 to Orland, coming in second place of the entire tournament.
“We persevered through some really difficult moments and we fought back and worked really hard to come back in our last game,” junior and defensive specialist (DS) Eliana Kanzler said. “We also mogged in our attitudes.”
The varsity team was there from seven in the morning until seven in the evening. At the end of the day, #2 Appy had 122 assists, #5 Smith had 27 kills, middle hitters #14 junior Kyla Kinyon and sophomore #8 Colby Eisner had 21 and 20 kills, respectively. Cunningham, #1, had 9 aces.
“The 50th annual AIVT was an emotional rollercoaster,” Griffith said. “I am very proud of all my players for staying together for all the ups and downs. The Tigers played some amazing volleyball!”
