Jeff Moeller, sports correspondent

Looking back, Richmond Hill junior co-captain Rae Sander recounted the most memorable experiences of her and her teammates’ recent season.

“Honestly, I think we had a good season,” said Sander. ‘There were many ups and downs, trials and challenges, wins and loses, but we fought together every time.

“Something we could’ve executed better was how to best play together as a team and be consistent. When we played, we were confident we made the right decisions as far as execution went, and we played consistently. and keep our energy throughout the game despite what the opponent looked like. We waited until we were down to really fight and push, instead of just playing hard from the beginning.”

The Wildcats advanced to the second round of the state playoffs and dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Denmark and finished 29-10 overall. The Wildcats blanked Carrollton, 3-0, in the opening round of the playoffs.

Head coach Danielle Ennis also saw a season-long picture filled with similar memories. Yet she was also impressed with the team development, a unit that initially had plenty of questions surrounding it.

“Overall, this season has been a journey of growth, challenges, and learning for our volleyball team,” said Ennis. “After graduating 10 seniors last year, we knew we had a younger team with a lot of potential, but we also knew it would take time to build chemistry, develop consistency, and find our identity on the court.

“We have seen moments of great volleyball, tremendous effort, and mental toughness, along with moments that reminded us how much room we still have to grow.”

She cherished seeing her players taking on some new tasks.

“One of the biggest positives has been watching players step into new roles, gain confidence, and learn to trust one another. We have a talented group, and when we communicate, execute, and play together, we can compete with anyone. While the season may not have unfolded exactly as we hoped, I am proud of the progress we have made and the potential this group has moving forward. ”

Senior co-captain Alexa Anderson was grateful for her experiences in the program, saying that it made a great impression on her.

“I’m so thankful for the memories and relationships I’ve made throughout the past three years,” said Anderson. “The legacy I hope to leave behind is showing that hard work, overcoming obstacles and determination matters more than anything. I hope I’ve inspired younger girls to believe in themselves and leave the program better than I found it.”

Sander, a junior, likes the potential of the returnees next year.

“I think Richmond Hill volleyball will be a force to be reckoned with, having a big, younger class,” said Sander. “We will have big holes to fill from our seniors leaving, but I think that with a season under our belts, working out all the kinks, and struggles, next year will look promising for our program.”

And head coach Ennis also sees a bright future.

“This team has a strong foundation to build on,” said Ennis. “I believe the lessons we learned this season will help us come back stronger, more confident, and even more determined next year.”