The girls varsity volleyball team played their last home game for the season against Highland Park on Oct. 14. For our seniors, it was their last home game at Niles North.

We had five seniors this year. Four were two year varsity players and one was a three year varsity player.

The last time Niles North and Highland Park met, it went to three games and Highland Park came out on top. Before the game started, the senior players we escorted by their parents to their coaches and principal Dr. Ryan McTague, where they received a flower and a picture. After receiving a gift from their teammates and taking some pictures with the parents and coaches, the game began.

Highland Park showed they came to play and jumped to a 8-0 lead. The Vikings trailed the entire first game and started to make a comeback toward the end but lost 22-25.

In the huddle between games, the coaches asked the girls a question, “How do you want to remember your last home game?”

After that motivation, the girls worked together and relied on each other to get the win.

“C’mon guys, we can do this! It’s a simple game, just slow it down and focus and we’ll win,” team member Nina Yonan said.

And that they did.

The team jumped to a 6-0 lead and never let up. Highland Park has a very good outside hitter who got the majority of their points in the first game, but this time around, we got a block up and our passers were digging her up. Highland Park put up a good fight, but they couldn’t compete with the intensity and energy the Vikings had. The girls pulled out a 25-21 win.

Into the 3rd game they went.

To start off, Highland Park got a few points up, but they then made a few mistakes. Our girls saw this as a huge opportunity to take off. With the Giants used to heavily depending on their outside hitter to get the majority of their points, they couldn’t find another way to score when going to her wasn’t working.

The passers did everything they could do to get a touch on every ball and senior player Addy Leopoldo did what she does best and gave some perfect sets. Highland Park had no chance with our Vikings playing as well as they were. Niles North won 25-15.

“I’m extremely proud of my team. I couldn’t ask for better teammates,” senior Mandy Aragon said. “I love them all and will miss them so much when season is over. I will never forget the memories made or the friendships created.”

“We really came together as a team and played our hearts out for our seniors,” Yonan said.