Photos by Kloe Bryant – The Arcata JV volleyball team.

By Kloe Bryant, The Pepperbox

This season the Arcata High JV volleyball team came in hot. The Tigers started the season going 10-0 until losing the championship in the Arcata High JV tournament. Arcata went on to finish the season 15-2 and 8-0 in the H-DNL.

The Tigers played their last game on Tuesday of last week against the Eureka Loggers. Arcata won 2-0, ending the season and achieving first place in their division.

This JV team was doing combination plays on the varsity level. The Tigers were able to complete, and score off of C’s and X’s. Head coach Amy Monier said “their growth was exponential.”

Freshman Eliana Kanzler played a big part in this team’s success. “Her tough, consistent serve was a major contributor,” coach Monier said. Coach Monier also noted Sophomore captain Harper Appy on her sets and assists. Sophomore captain Pearl Smith also had a great season with her adjustment to outside hitter.

During the Arcata High JV tournament, the Tigers got second place after losing the championship to St. Bernards. The Tigers played seven games that night, six of them went to three sets. Arcata found themselves falling in the second set in most games. “In volleyball, when you start losing, a lot of times, teams fall apart from the mental aspect of it, and the group this year were really able to hang in there,” coach Monier said.

The Tigers were able to bounce back after losing and went on to win 10 out of 11 sets since their last loss against trinity. “The time we lost at our tournament, we fought so hard that day, we were tired and worked hard, and the whole season we worked hard,” Kanzler said.

The Tigers are ready for next season with the sophomores going to Varsity, and a new set of freshmen coming in. Fans are expecting a good season next year with the growth from the freshman and talent from the incoming class. 

Kloe Bryant is an Arcata High student who writes for The Pepperbox, The Student News Site of Arcata High School. You can follow her on Instagram @kloebryant.