The game started out with sideouts from both teams tying the score 1-1. Neither team held the lead, constantly exchanging points making the score 4 apiece. Junior Celina Vicuna served with an ace and afterwards returned the ball with a kill to bring the score 6-4. On Vicuna’s next serve, senior Lani Ancheta spiked the ball back causing Whitney to miss, giving OA a 3 point lead, 7-4. The ladies’ good serving streak was soon over after Whitney got a sideout making the score 7-5. Some efficient Patriot teamwork brought the score to 8-5 but the lead narrowed to 2 again after some miscommunication. On a Whitney serve, Senior Sophia Lee saved the Patriots with a strong block off a kill attempt. It was a Patriot point after Whitney bumped the ball into the net. With pressure to remain in the lead, the Lady Patriots continued spiking and coming back with kills, but Whitney soon caught up 9-9. Vicuna, once again, fought back with a kill, giving OA a 1 point lead. Oxford then got a sideout which increased the points 11-9. Oxford continued leading, 12-9, after Whitney failed to return a tip. Next, Senior Alexis Medina served twice with sharp aces both times increasing the score 14-9. The game intensified as Whitney brought out some new techniques. After Lani Ancheta’s serve, the Lady patriots demonstrated good teamwork with exceptional communication and passing. Vicuna returned the ball with a kill and afterwards, Whitney could not save Medina’s kill, which made the score 15-10. The score became 20-10, after some successful serves and after Whitney bumped the ball out of bounds multiple times. Lani, then served with two aces making the score 22-10. Unfortunately, the Lady Patriots bumped the ball to the net making the score 23-11, which gave Whitney possession of the ball. On Whitney’s second serve, the ball was short, which gave the Patriots a lead of 12, 24-12. The game ended 25-13 after Oxford was able to get a sideout.

The second game began with a rough start. Whitney started out serving with an ace but OA soon tied after getting a sideout, which made the score 1-1. The score soon became 4-4. Whitney then served an ace gaining a 2 point lead, 4-6. The deficit soon increased to 4 after the referee called a double hit. Once again Whitney served with an ace making the score 4-9. The lady patriots began to lose their energy when Whitney got a sideout widening the deficit to 6, 5-11. On Junior Vianca Morales’ serve, the Lady patriots showed some good communication but a missed ball returned the ball to Whitney’s possession and kept the 6 point deficit, 6-12. The score became 7-12 after Whitney bumped the ball out of bounds. On Lani Ancheta’s serves, the Lady Patriots came back with more energy to catch up 9-12. Medina dove to save the ball in play after someone bumped it out of bounds keeping the 3 point deficit, 10-13. Whitney remained in the lead by 3, 14-17. The score almost tied 18-19, when Senior Vivian Martin performed some good blocks. Vicuna saved some harsh kill attempts and the ladies continued to rally back and forth. The rallying almost ended when Whitney bumped the ball and it hit the ceiling but ended when OA spiked the ball out of bounds, making the score 18-20. On senior Megan Fitzpatrick’s serve, Sophomore Alyssa Ancheta returned the ball with a kill making the score very close, 20-21. The younger Ancheta sister then dove and made the score 21-23. On Whitney’s final serve, the lady patriots’ miscommunication ended the game 21-25.

The Lady Patriots started the third game reenergized after a close defeat. Whitney started with a lead 0-1, but the ladies quickly took control with the lead. Lee served with an ace giving OA the lead 2-1. Lee continued to serve with aces and the Patriots remained enthusiastic as their lead increased to 10, the score being 11-1. Alyssa Ancheta kept the patriots’ lead of 10, when she tipped the ball and Whitney failed to retrieve it, which kept the deficit at 10, 12-2. After a missed ball and sideouts, Whitney seemed to be catching up 13-6. Vicuna served with an ace increasing the lead 14-6. After Whitney missed a kill, the score became 16-7. Closer to their victory, the Lady Patriots kicked it up a notch and began spiking harder and closer to the boundary line. The score became 22-9 after the Ancheta sisters dove to save the ball, which Whitney returned with an out of bounds kill attempt. After a sideout and a fierce kill, Whitney attempted to catch up, 23-12. The next patriot serve was a sideout for Whitney making the score 24-14. Morales ended the game 25-13 with a strong kill.

With renewed confidence, the lady patriots began the last game enthusiastically. They took the lead 2-0 after some long rallying. The lead remained up by 2 after Whitney spiked near the boundary line. Junior Celina Vicuna served the ball and Morales returned the ball with a kill out of bounds to make the score 4-4.The score remained tied, 5-5. Soon after, Morales served and after some intense rallying spiked the ball back resulting in a Patriot point 7-5.The ladies continued to score when Vicuna tipped the ball, barely making it. After Lani tipped the ball and Fitzpatrick fought back with a kill the score was 11-5. Some missed kills and miscommunication caused Whitney to catch up 11-8. Still, the Lady Patriots fought back but Whitney quickly caught up 12-12. The ladies aggressively played making proving they could handle Whitney’s kills. Sophia Lee served with an ace giving OA a lead of 1, 14-13. On her next serves, Whitney lost control of the ball, bumping out of bounds, making the score 15-13. Once again Lee served with an ace making the score 17-13. After some serves, the score was 20-14. Oxford got a sideout and Vicuna served with an ace keeping the lead of 6. The ladies demonstrated fantastic teamwork, when Lani set the ball for Alexis Morales to return with a kill, making the score 23-15. Morales ended the game 25-15 with a tip.

Overall, the Whitney victory was a good way for the ladies to start the week. There was a lot of support from the audience who constantly cheered them on. The game had a happy ending with the baseball players as happy as the victorious Lady Patriots, after they out-cheered Whitney’s obnoxious cheerleaders.