Green Hope varsity volleyball seemed stuck in the mud at the Swamp yesterday versus the Gators. The Falcon team faced a 3-0 defeat, their first loss and first set loss of the 2025 season. Although the score seems stark, the Falcons put up a great fight, finishing the final two sets within six points of the tough Green Level team. After starting the season 13-0, the loss to Green Level drops them to 13-1, and while still highly ranked in the state and the Quad City 7 conference, the Gator victory will knock Green Hope down a few pegs in the North Carolina high school volleyball rankings.
Although they faced a loss, the Green Hope team will use it as motivation in their upcoming games, especially in their next match with Green Level on Oct 9. The Green Hope volleyball program, led by captains Chloe Burbage (‘28), Evie Carlson (‘26) and Taylor Bruce (‘26), kept it a close game throughout the nerve-wracking match. Getting to their biggest point differential: up seven points in the second set, the Falcons just couldn’t seem to hold onto the lead.
Since both volleyball programs were undefeated leading up to this match, Green Hope held many intensive practice sessions in the weeks leading up to the faceoff. The Falcon game plan involved smart swings, playing a focused game, and adjusting to the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing team. Carlson (‘26) emphasized the challenge of this specific game, recognizing that “Green Level is the toughest competition that we face all season.”
Hitter Izzy Jankowsky (‘27) mentioned the importance of positivity and trust in a mid-game timeout, reminding the Falcons to “forget about whatever mistake you just made and keep that next-play mentality so we can all play for each other.” With more than five kills each from Bruce and Carlson, Green Hope fought their hardest against a big Green Level block, simply getting out-hit throughout the match. Lindley Miller (‘26) and Riley Taylor (‘26) led the Green Level offense, with more than seven kills for each of them, finding a way through the Falcon defenders.
Up against a rowdy Gator student section, Green Hope players did their best to block out the noise and stay invested in the game in a focused and calm fashion. After their first loss of the season, Green Hope volleyball hopes to move forward and turn over a new leaf. Although the 3-0 loss is not a happy memory, Coach Redelfs and the team will use it as a learning experience in preparation for the next match with Green Level.
