The varsity volleyball squad won its first round NCS match against the John F. Kennedy Titans in straight sets on Wednesday.  The girls’ record is now 22-9. They will need to win 7 straight games to make it back to the state championship match.

Senior Natalie Meniktas said one of the Cougars’ strengths against the Titans was their defense. “We were really good on our defense, and putting the pressure on them,” she said.

Meniktas also said the team “served pretty tough.” Junior Kenzie Brown felt the team “stayed super focused.”

Head coach Dave Chen believed it was the team’s “disciplined and controlled” playing that earned them the win.

“I think we improved with moving around and reading our hitters,” she Brown.

This was the Titans’ first appearance at NCS. JFK head coach Marcus Young said he hopes that in future seasons “the first time jitters won’t be there as much” for his team. Young said the match was competitive and his team was “happy to get here and play.”

Sophomore Nikki Ahazie said of Campolindo’s win, “They took it seriously and didn’t play down to the other team’s level. Kelley Wirth and Annie Doyle and and Kirsten Sibley are always strong players, but I also think that (freshman) Sabrina Smith played really well tonight.”

Chen hopes the team will gain more “confidence and consistency” as they progress through the post season tournament.