Panthers vs Lobos Volleyball

Saturday morning, the first day of November, the final game before tournaments for the Lobos volleyball team. This Saturday corresponds to their homecoming week- I wonder will the pride the athletes feel change their attitudes on the court.  It’s about nine thirty, the games are being hosted at their Lower Valley home court at Lobo Middle School. Both volleyball and football are playing here, so as a result like always there is no parking at the gravel designated parking area. Other SUVs and I are forced to park on the side of one of the intersecting streets.

 Upon entering the gym, I am shocked to find out that the school is charging an entrance price to see the game. Twenty five cents for students and fifty cents for adults are the fees. At first I wonder why they have decided to start charging an entrance fee, after all this time – it’s the last game of the season.  When I ask one of the people selling concession I get an answer. Apparently the ticket lady usually acts as a parent-volunteer here at the school but is actually employed by the district, as is thus getting paid by the district to sell tickets here. This brings me to the question of, where was she earlier in the season, why now. I find out later from asking around, with three people providing me with inside information- apparently there is a power struggle going on with many of  the schools volunteers and thus she decided to fill in the vacant ticket seller spot in order to better her relations with administration and position in the school. The concession stand –which is still a collection of three plastic fold-able tables - big sellers are coffee , and nachos – all things nice and warm on a chilly cloudy day as is today.  . The bleachers are not as full as I thought it would be for the final game, with only pockets of people occupying the wooden seats. The seventh graders are finishing their third game. Today’s opponents are the Panthers. Panther MS is the second closet middle school to Lobo MS, located also in the lower valley.

The seventh grader are exhibiting team work. If they win this game then they are eligible to play at the upcoming tournament for the title of champions of the district. They are communicating with one another, adjusting their formation in order to cover open spots when their fellow player goes up for the spike or block. Instead of just hitting the ball, their strategies while playing in doing a bump, set, spike series. The seventh grade Panthers, though not as skill as the Lobos, are equal in energy and determination. I’ve observed that the Lobo’s seventh grade coach’s manner of dealing with her girls during a game has not changed. She still is critical on the girls and I can hear her yelling from my seat on the bleachers. Is it this tough relationship with her girls that has made the team victors in almost every game, for she emphasizes discipline and demands perfection? The Panther’s coach is a man who appears to be in his twenties. I don’t hear any yelling from him, and it appears that instead of reprimanding his team, he is trying to correct them as he demonstrates proper technique from the side.

I notice the eighth grade athletes seated behind the seventh graders. The panther team is encouraging on their athletes, the majority of them seem to be paying attention as they chant cheers. The eight grade Lobos on the hand are mixed in their behavior. Some are cheering on their seventh graders, two of them appeared bored (not watching the game, I can see both on their phones), and the rest of them are talking to the football managers that decided to leave the field and come socialize in the gym. In previous games, the athletes seemed more polite, is it the fact that it is the end of the season that they carefree. The seventh graders win the game 25 to 18.

Eighth graders game is to begin in fifteen minutes.

I wonder why there are not as many people here as usual. Is it because it is  late in the season , are people more interested in football as it is the homecoming game, had the Halloween festivities contributed to the low turnout? I look out into the crowd and see that very little people are wearing school related t-shirts, and besides me no one has a sign. Can this lack of spirit be attributed to the ending of the season? Spanish and English are being spoken by both groups of fans which appear to be mainly Hispanic.

Unlike usual when a game is won the seventh grade Lobos stay to cheer on the eighth graders, but I don’t see any except for the coach’s daughter.  I’m guessing it is because the homecoming football game is going on outside. Observing   the warm up of both teams, appear to be equally matched. How will this game turn out?

The game begins with Lobos having the first serve. This game is characterized by intense volleying by both teams. Unlike other games, points are not being easily earned by missed serves or careless mistakes or lack of hustling to the ball. Both teams are communication, hustling to the ball, working as team, and as a result the game is fast pace, the girls on either team are not getting discouraged so easily. Thirty five minutes into the game the score lands at Lobos 21 to Panthers 20. Lobo athlete with uniform # 15 serves. Her serves are precise and come with force. The panthers are unable to pick up her serves as they hit open spaces at a fast speed compared to other girl’s serves.  She wins the first round for the Lobos 25 to 20.

Second game begins, and like the previous match this game is characterized by volleying between both teams. This time though the panthers are partaking in blaming one another, I can hear it and see annoyance and unhappiness on the athlete’s faces. The Lobos seem to be working together unlike previous games, I’m assuming the victory in the earlier match has united them-at least on the court. I look at athletes sitting on the metal chairs and see that there are gaps –empty chairs between girls.

I don’t see the outcome of the game for I have to leave since my athlete has another obligation to attend to – we waited as long as we could before we leave. The coach lets her go, and this brings a concern up. Why did the coach let her go so easily and not insist she stays? Is this commentary on the lack of unity on the team, is this an act of favoritism for my athlete is deemed expendable? I’m afraid both questions can be answered with “yes “.