On Sept. 6, Bellaire volleyball swept Kempner High School in three sets with scores of 25-17, 25-23 and 25-13. This marked the last home game for the senior players.

The 6:30 p.m. varsity game against Kempner was the team’s Senior Night. Before the match, seniors were gifted sashes, customized with their names and numbers. They were individually announced and accompanied by family down the court, where they were showered with flowers and applause.

“My family has dedicated so much time and effort, driving me to practices and traveling to my games,” senior Darian Prince said. “I want to show them how much that means to me by continuing to play and striving to commit to a college team.”

Senior Night recognized the seniors’ four years of dedication to Bellaire volleyball. The students and fans in attendance completely filled the stands to root on the Lady Cards.

“I helped gather a student section,” junior Alex Tilney said. “A couple friends and I organized that so we would be able to support our Lady Cards volleyball team and cheer them to their victory against Kempner High School.”

The student section rallied Bellaire through a tight first and second set. This momentum helped the Lady Cards complete the night with a win, finishing with a 10-point lead in the third set.

“Senior Night was incredible and it was definitely our best game of the season,” Prince said. “The Bellaire Booster Club played a part in amping up the energy, and the team was able to feed off the excitement which helped drive us to a victory.”

Gallery • 2 Photos

Photo provided by Lucy Bannerman

Booster Club brings out school mascot Ralphy to cheer on varsity volleyball. Students and fans filled the stands.

Recently, the Bellaire volleyball program adopted a new, spirit-boosting, pregame tradition: line dancing. The Lady Cards enjoy warming up to the Wobble and Footloose.

“The highlight of Bellaire volleyball is all the friendships and memories I have made, from dance circles before the game to bus rides,” senior Christine Dimacali said.

These girls have dedicated hundreds of hours and countless practices to the volleyball program.

“We are held to a high standard and this betters us as players and as a team to really play and train to the best of our ability everyday,” Prince said.

This team has high performance standards, winning districts 23 times in the last 24 years. Last year, the Lady Cards’ run in playoffs was cut short losing in the first round but they are back for more this year.

“I think our goal, just as a team, is to go 12-0 [in district] and then go really far in the playoffs,” Dimacali said.

Although this marks the end of a chapter for the seniors, they have a lot to celebrate and remember.

“What I’ll miss the most are the bonds I’ve built over these past four years in the volleyball program,” Prince said. “These girls aren’t just my teammates, they’re like sisters to me.”