Shouts everywhere. Energy circulates the pool. The ball moves up and down the pool for 50 minutes.

Despite an extremely close first quarter, the girls water polo team lost to St. Agnes 16-5 on Sept. 24.

Senior captain Nicole Dibos was frustrated with the score but proud of the team’s spirit.

“The score wasn’t the best,” Dibos said. “But the game started really well and we were in the lead in the first quarter.”

The Cardinals dominated early on with swift movements and fast reactions.

“The ball was moving and people were shouting,” Dibos said. “Players were getting in their position and taking advantage of the defense.”

Compared to Bellaire’s previous 15-4 loss to St. Agnes on Sept. 13, Dibos is satisfied with the team’s improvement.

“Last time we played them, it felt like they were shutting us down, and at the end of the game, we figured out their defense and got into a rhythm,” Dibos said. “We could feel how the St. Agnes girls started the game optimistic and how they were rushing things.”

Bellaire was off to a strong start, but their errors quickly caught up with them.

“The biggest problem for us was that we were tired,” Dibos said. “Our team has a lot less experience than St. Agnes.”

When water polo became a UIL sport in 2022, the team struggled to find players.

“This year we have a full team compared to the seven players we had freshman year and we’re doing really well on teamwork,” Cohen said.

As the players continue to compete together, Cohen notices an improvement in team chemistry.

“Everyone got closer this year and [now] all the girls talk with each other and warm up together,” Cohen said. “We have team events outside of water polo, which bond us all together, and they help us in games.”

In the same pool, just 10 minutes later, the boys team lost to Strake Jesuit 18-12.

The Cardinals were off to a slow start, but found rhythm in the second half and managed to cut Strake’s lead to six by the end of the game.

Senior captain Luca Rainusso scored five points for Bellaire. Rainusso was proud about how his team played compared to last time they faced Strake.

“We practiced shooting under pressure and for counters, we practiced a drill that everyone hates but I love,” Rainusso said.

The drill, which consists of swimming the entire pool six times while covering another player aims to familiarize the team with facing pressure while having the ball.

Junior Belsey Ferguson practiced blocking shots as goalie all week. At game time, Ferguson found his groove in the second half.

“Strake is one of the best [teams] in the region,” Ferguson said. “When I blocked their shots the whole team was cheering for me and everyone was hyped for it. It made me feel a lot better about my performance.”

Ferguson explained how the team started spotting Strake’s patterns after the second half and how the men were able to recover from a slow start.

“In the beginning it was 12-2 at one point and I tried to not let it get to me,” Ferguson said. “Then we were just on a roll, and we didn’t let off the gas after that.”

The Cardinals are set to face the notorious Westside High School this Friday, Sept. 27 for an exciting rematch at home.