DAY ONE: November has arrived and y’know what that means…UC San Diego Women’s Club Volleyball Preseason has begun, and they know just how to kick off this glorious occasion—pancake party and High School Musical 2 soundtrack (yes, this is the best movie of them all. If anyone disagrees, talk it over with Alicia “Humuhumunukunukuapua’a” Chen). After a little team bonding sesh, the Lady Tritons are properly fueled by the power of bananas, batter, and bae (Zac Efron) and start making their way to SDSU for the Aztec Invitational Tourney.
Upon arrival at the gym, the team discovers that they have only a couple more hours to wait. Of course they enjoy their time by taking a team stroll under the warm sun and eating apples con caramel as supplied by Nataly “Cool Mom” Aguilar. Then it’s finally GAME TIME! One excellent dynamic warm-up sesh later, they are ready for their first match against CSU San Marcos. The Tritons earn their first W of the season!
Thinking ahead, Alicia “Catch me if you can!” Chen is well prepared and has the perfect song in her repertoire to get the team extra pumped for Match #2 against UCI’s B Team: Hannah Montana’s “Best of Both Worlds.” Can’t see how it gets more motivational than that ditty. To name a few highlights, Gabbi “Dabbi” Heitmann proves that she’s not one to be messed with, especially after her beauteous 2 ball smash out of nowhere. Also Nataly “Splat-a-pus” Aguilar shows that she’s back in full splatting motion as she digs balls left and right in the back row. The team works together like a well-oiled machine and earns their second W.
Game 3 against UCSB B team winds up being another great match for UC San Diego. Outside hitter Julia “Has Pet Rock Named Phil” House crushes the ball down the line, prompting Alicia to say mid-game, “Are you a pick-up artist? Because that line worked on me.” Not a moment passes later and Karissa “Drop a Disney Beat and I’m There” Jacobsen flies by the net to deliver a sizzlin’ slide down the right side. UC San Diego picks up their third win.
UC San Diego’s 4th match of the night is their best yet. The sandwiches that Sydney “Always Gets Home” Riegert supplies definitely do the trick! Seeing as it was already 9:30pm, the Tritons just wanted to peace out for the night. They finish the night undefeated.
DAY TWO: In honor of “No Shave November” and being the classy San Diegans that they are at heart, the Lady Tritons roll into the gym wearing mustaches. They wear their ‘staches just like they wear the numbers on their jerseys—taped on. When it’s time to warm up for their first match against Cal Poly SLO’s A team, Alicia “Cauliflower Queen” Chen savagely crushes the ball on the shoulder of Coach Phil (who is standing at the 10 foot line). Literally the entire gym is stunned by this sight and sound. ‘Twas quite a fierce warm-up admittedly, but it was also one of the best ways to pump up the team. UC San Diego starts off the match super strong: Gina sets up a beautiful slide to Alicia who rips a gnarly one down the line. Despite a small hiccup in the middle of the set, the Tritons take game 1 with ease. When the 2nd set comes around, the short serve game really shakes up UC San Diego’s passing. They do fight back but not soon enough, and it goes to game 3. For the first time, UC San Diego barely loses to the Mustangs in the end but are content overall with their performance at this first tournament. They are just getting warmed up, so stay tuned for more updates on their tournament/facial hair choices at UC Irvine in a couple of short weeks.