It might have been a gloomy day outside, but the energy inside the gym was electric as the varsity volleyball team prepared for their championship game. Many fans donned GDS attire, and some wore bright green hats with grasshoppers attached to the top. The most dedicated fans even brought cowbells that they rang during the game and while the teams warmed up.
On Thursday, Oct. 30, the women’s varsity volleyball team played Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School in the Independent School League (ISL) championship match. The Hoppers won in three sets, winning the volleyball division AA tournament for the first time in GDS history.
The ISL has two divisions, the upper AA division and the lower A division.
Including tournament matches, GDS has won every conference game this season in straight sets.
The game started with a short rally between the teams before senior Gigi Wigglesworth got GDS on the board with a kill. The crowd roared with excitement, something that became commonplace throughout the match.
Powerful kills by senior Fiona McDermott and junior Zora Dimbo put GDS up 9–4 early on.
After trading a few points, GDS went on a 4–0 run, led by junior Caycee Chhum. Chhum was all over the court, assisting teammates left and right. A set from Chhum led to a hit from Wigglesworth that St. Andrew’s wasn’t able to return. GDS was now up 15–8.
St. Andrew’s called a timeout, and as the players huddled near their respective benches, the crowd cheered and rang their cowbells.
After the timeout, junior Alexa Telly was quick to get in on the action. A set by senior Ella Higday on the left side gave her a hit the Lions defense had no hope of returning. Just two points later, Telly served an ace, putting GDS up 18–11.
The Hoppers were able to take advantage of St. Andrew’s miscommunications, getting five easy points as they took a 23–11 lead.
In a long rally, both Chhum and Higday had quick-thinking saves on the defensive end, ultimately gaining them the point.
“There was a huge defensive wall played tonight,” assistant coach Amber Matalus noted. “Our libero was on fire on defense and everyone else rallied around that.”
To close out the set, Wigglesworth slammed down the ball, handing GDS a 25–11 first-set win.
To start the second set, the Lions threw away a few points due to miscommunications on defense.
Dimbo, McDermott and Telly continued to find open spots on the court to target, and the Hoppers increased their lead to 12–3.
Every point was electric and the crowd never quieted, roaring loudly as St. Andrew’s called another timeout. Chants of “Let’s go, Hoppers!” filled the air as fans stomped on bleachers to cheer on their team.
“Volleyball’s a massively energy-based sport,” McDermott said after the game. “Whenever you get a big kill, it’s always fun to hear people cheering. We really feel the support.”
The Hoppers came out of the timeout hot. Wigglesworth contributed five straight points for GDS, blocking, serving and hitting her way to a 20–6 Hopper lead. Her scoring led to yet another St Andrew’s timeout, their second of the set.
Out of the break, McDermott was quick to score, hitting a kill on a set from Chhum. Soon after, two aces from Chhum closed out the second set, with GDS winning 25–6.
In the third set, St. Andrew’s looked like they were about to make a comeback. Attacks from multiple of their players gave them a 3–0 lead. For the vast majority of the set, the Hoppers and Lions traded points, neither gaining a sizable lead.
But as each team neared the 25 points needed to win the set, Dimbo and Telly took charge. Each had multiple kills, loud enough to echo throughout the gym. With the score sitting at 22–19, GDS was just three points away from winning the ISL championship.
On the left side of the court, Telly hit two quick balls, putting GDS up 24–19. Two errors by GDS kept St. Andrew’s within reach, at 24–21.
On the last play of the game, Higday received the ball and passed it to Chhum. Chhum set it, and Wigglesworth hit the ball. Two St. Andrew’s players reached up to block the attack but tipped the ball just out of bounds, giving GDS the third set win.
Players on the bench ran onto the court and smiles erupted on their faces. It was official. The Hoppers had won the ISL AA division championship—for the first time—in straight sets. Cheers erupted in the gym as the players gathered near the net for a photo with the banner. Donning custom ISL championship hats, they embraced family members and friends, taking in their win.
“It feels amazing,” Dimbo remarked after the game.
She noted that two years ago, the Hoppers lost in the ISL finals to Flint Hill, 0–3. Last year, they lost to Bullis in the finals, 1–3. The win on Thursday was an accumulation of years of progression and hard work. “It’s really great to win in a way like this, especially at home,” she said.
McDermott echoed those sentiments. “When we played Flint Hill [two years ago], our goal was to get 15 points. Now, winning the league is insane.” She grinned. “It’s been amazing to accomplish this last thing on our list.”