But Oxford was not ready to give up the game, as demonstrated when Senior Joey Chen attempted to block a strike from Whitney. The score was 6-17 when Junior Joe Kim blocked yet another spike from Whitney, back onto their side of the net. As Oxford gained a point, Whitney missed a shot and the score became 8-18. With 10 points between the teams, Oxford immediately stepped up their game, leading Whitney to miss another spike. Junior Joe Kim served and the libero for Whitney failed to stop it, gaining another point for Oxford. A timeout was called and the game restarted with Oxford serving again, the score 12-19. Oxford unfortunately served it out, but the distance between the scores was steadily decreasing. Whitney served later, the score 13-20. When the score was at 13-21, Sophomore Jin Huh dove to save a spike, but the ball went out. Senior Kyle Kakalia spiked the ball at Whitney, taking them by surprise and almost gaining a point for the Patriots. Junior Tyler Kim spiked the ball, making the score 14-24 when Whitney missed it. Despite Oxford’s hard work to catch up, however, the first game ended and the teams switched sides.

The second game began with higher hopes and stronger determination from the Oxford side. The score immediately put Oxford in the lead, 1-0, when Whitney touched the net. When Senior Kyle Kakalia saved a spike, Junior Tyler Kim kept the ball alive and the play going, increasing the lead to 2-1. Whitney caught Oxford off guard though with a spike that tied the game. The Patriots were not going to lose their lead; they gained another point. The score was 3-2 when an intense sequence of volleying began highlighting an excellent display of teamwork. Kakalia faked a spike, with Tyler Kim taking over. The libero for Whitney fell hard on the floor, catching the ball and maintaining the intensity. When Junior Paul Oh knocked it over the net and Whitney failed to save it, he put the score at 4-5. Although Oxford was one point behind, the team’s morale was not affected and the game continued, if not with more intensity. On Oxford’s side, one of the players accidentally hit it into the net, but the team saved it and continued the play. The score was unfortunately 5-8, even after Sophomore Daniel Lee fell in an attempt to save the ball. Senior Joey Chen served the ball, putting the score at 8-11. When the score increased to 8-12, Sophomore Daniel Lee served and demonstrated the Patriots’ perseverance in the game.

Tyler Kim spiked the ball and Whitney missed; his spikes throughout the game gained points for the team. The score was 10-12 when Whitney faked a spike, hoping to confuse our team, but Senior Kyle Kakalia saved it and hit it back. A good volleying sequence ensued and the score changed again, 11-14, when Sophomore Jin Huh saved a spike and Senior Kyle Kakalia hit it over the net, forcing Whitney to miss. The team constantly proved how teamwork led to favorable results and strong plays. A timeout was called with the score 12-14, and Sophomore Daniel Lee restarted the game with a serve. At 13-17, Kakalia made another save, this time on the ground, and Oxford continued to hang in the game; his saves continuously caught Whitney off guard, gaining points for Oxford at every opportunity. The score was 17-23 when Oxford unfortunately served it out. Whitney served the ball, hitting it into the far corner of the court, bumping up the score to 17-24. A timeout was called, and then the second game ended. Oxford’s score had increased in relation to the last game, promising to make the third game an intense battle.

The third game was obviously the most difficult struggle between the two teams. The score increased to 3-4 when Junior Joe Kim hit it over the net and gained Oxford a point. Oxford made a sub when the score was 5-7, bringing Junior Andrew Duong into the game. Whitney mistook a ball for out when it was actually in, increasing the score to 7-10. In only minutes, Senior Colin Togashi saved a spike that made it over the net, but unfortunately out on the other side. Thus the score was 8-11, then 10-11 when Whitney communicated ineffectively on their side of the court, followed closely by a timeout. When Whitney served the ball out, Oxford was suddenly in the lead, 13-12, and maintained it when Whitney spiked the ball out, 14-13. Some intense volleying occurred again, and managed to end with the score 16-17, unfortunately putting Whitney back in the lead. Oxford misinterpreted the ball’s position, and the score was 16-18. Another timeout was called when Oxford spiked the ball out, the score 16-21. Oxford gained another point, 17-22, when Whitney hit the ball out and more intense volleying again ended with Whitney in the lead. The score was 17-23 after Oxford hit the ball out. The score was 18-24 when Whitney served the ball into the net. Oxford scored another point, putting the score at 19-24, before the game finally ended.

This may have been a loss for Oxford’s Patriots, but it still demonstrated the team’s hard work, perseverance, determination, and teamwork. Multiple times throughout the three games, each of these traits gained Oxford points. Each match ended with Oxford’s points increased (14, 17, 19), highlighting their unwillingness to go down without a fight. With this attitude in mind, Oxford’s Boys Varsity Volleyball team played a strong game against Whitney.