On Thursday, August 28th, the visiting Hoggard Vikings stepped off the bus, while the West Brunswick Trojans were already warming up for the match. With every shoe laced and every ball being peppered, the Trojans knew this would be a tough match. Although many of the players on both teams are freshman, they came out like collegiate level athletes but sadly lost by 2 sets. 

Throughout the first set of the match, the score stayed within a couple points until the Vikings got into a groove and pulled into the lead. Both teams were serving ace after ace, while the defense fought to receive a ball. The Vikings slowly left the Trojans in the dust winning the first set 25-16. Trojans Head Coach Olivia Scott immediately pulled her team into a huddle to figure out a new plan to defeat the Vikings in the next set, hopefully to lead to a three-set match. 

The buzzer sounded at the start of the second and final set, and the players lined the court. From the first ball, Hoggard’s energy was unmatched, immediately stringing plays together with crisp passes, buttery sets, and hits slammed near the ten-foot-line. While the Trojans kept their blocks up, the Vikings were already covering the block. Both teams huddled between plays, while one regrouped with a motivational speech, the other celebrated with loud cheers and excitement. 

Although both teams fought point after point, the Hoggard Vikings won the game with an end score of 2-0. The Trojans were just another pawn moved out of the way on their path to staying relatively undefeated all season. The West Brunswick Trojans have lost to the Hoggard Vikings for years and were ready to finally end their streak. Both teams will meet again in Viking territory, on September 23rd.