Lady Bobcats sustain district dominance

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by Joao Lucas Argenta

**MATCH POINT:** Junior Mikah McIntosh jumps to hit the ball looking to score the match point. The Lady Bobcats won the district final against Pines Charter by 3 – 0. *Photo by Joao Lucas Argenta*

For the sixth year in a row, the West Broward Girls volleyball team has won another district title, with a record of 19-6. The Bobcats suffered the loss of eight players from last year, but still hoped to maintain its district dominance, and under the command of head coach Allison Reddish, on her first year as the head coach, the Lady Bobcats were able to achieve its goal on what was thought to be a rebuilding season.

“As a team, we need to find a new sense of chemistry,” said head coach Allison Reddish. “I’ve lost eight girls since last season. It’s a rebuilding year and it’s going to take a lot of hard work to become a cohesive unit.”

In their first game of the season, the Lady Bobcats faced off against the Miramar High Patriots at home.West Broward was able to set the tone early, winning the first set 25-13, and dominating the next two sets 25-12, and 25-11.

Coming off of the 3-0 victory, the Bobcats looked to to carry out the momentum from their season opener as they went up against Pines Charter on the road. The Bobcats put up a good fight, but Charter won the first set 25-18, but the Bobcats tied, winning the second 26-24, but could not keep up, losing the following sets 28-26 and 25-22.

“Our biggest disappointment was against Pines Charter where we lost by about four. It was a big reality check because we have to play the game mentally as much as we play it physically,’’ Reddish said.

During the next four games, the Bobcats went on a winning streak, beating South Broward, South Plantation, and Flanagan all by the score of 3-0. When going against South Broward, the Bobcats gave the Bulldogs no chance, beating them 25-11, 25-6 and 25-10. Against South Plantation, the Bobcats played tough sets, but held an easy win in the end, with scores of 25-18, 25-16 and 25-22. Against Flanagan, the Bobcats faced another easy opponent, winning 25-9, 25-18 and 25-13. And against Miramar high, the Lady Bobcats dominated the pirates with scores of 25-10, 25-8 and 25-15, defeating them for the second time this season.

Facing off against Pines Charter for the second time this season, the Bobcats were seeking for revenge due to the 3-1 loss suffered earlier in the season, and were able to achieve that. On the first two sets, the Lady Bobcats defeated the Jaguars 25-16 and 25-13, but on the third saw Charted putting up a better fight trying to make a comeback, but sealed the win defeating them 27-25. After beating Pembroke Pines Charter, the Bobcats engaged on a 10 game winning streak, beating teams such as Nova, Flanagan and Mcarthur. Against Stoneman Douglas, The Lady Bobcats played a tough game, and saw themselves losing the first set 25-20, but tied the game 25-22, lost the third 25-19, but followed to make the comeback winning the next two sets 25-19 and 25-9. The streak came to an end against Western, the bobcats played hard but were not able to defeat the Wildcats, losing three sets to zero, with scores of 25-22, 25-22, and 25-14.

On the district semi-final, the Lady Bobcats saw themselves facing off against Flanagan, and was able to hold them to only three points on the first set, beating them by 25-3, and was able to gather its spot in the district final by beating them on the next two sets by 25-18, 25-18. On the district final, the Bobcats faced off against Pembroke Pines Charter for the third time this season, losing to them earlier in the season, but defeating them later on, and with the same record of 18-6, the Lady Bobcats fought hard and were able to conquer another district title, beating the Jaguars three sets to zero. On the first set the Bobcats defeated them 25-18, but saw them trying to pull a comeback, but defeated them on a close set 25-22, and was able to finish the game on a strong set defeating them 25-9. Now the Lady Bobcats will face off Hialeah Gardens on the first game of the playoffs, looking to reach their ultimate goal of making to states for the first time.

“Our goal every year is to make it past regional finals and get to the state playoffs,” Reddish said. “We’ve made it to regional finals the past five years in a row. We just need that final push.”