Selah Neal
Both athletes have been varsity players since their freshman year, racking up an impressive stat sheet.
Fresno Christian community gathers to honor FC Girl’s Varsity Volleyball seniors Jordyn DeGroot and Sarah Guglielmana for their excellence on the court, Oct.7.
Each girl hit impressive milestones in their high school volleyball career. DeGroot celebrates 1000 kills, while Guglielmana celebrates 1000 passes, assists, and kills.
These achievements were not accomplished overnight. Both have poured in countless hours in the gym, and their dedication is reflected by the success they have had during games. Guglielmana takes pride in her triumphs, but recognizes that she would not be the player she is today without the community around her.
“It was amazing to see my hard work over the past four years pay off from all the hours of practice and games to get to this point, as well as the impact my teammates and coaches had to help me get here,” Guglielmana said. “I’m looking forward to going on to playoffs and hopefully winning valleys, advancing to state playoffs. It was heartwarming to see this group of girls supporting me with pure selfless intent in their hearts, and I hope they realize they helped me get here.”
In volleyball, these career milestones mean so much due to the technical skill required to obtain each point. Each point is arguably its own game, and teams are competing for 25 games to one point to win a set.
The point rally begins with a serve; when the serve is received, that is a pass. That pass is rated on a scale from zero to three. A zero-point pass would be the end of the point due to it being shanked; a three-point pass would be perfectly to the setter. A dig is a successfully received attack and is only counted after the initial three touches. The setter then “assists” the ball with careful thought and intention as she makes a quick decision based on the quality of the pass on who to set. The setter is primarily considered “the quarterback” of the court, as she initiates plays and sets up for an offensive attack. Typically, there are four options: an outside hitter, an opposite hitter, a middle hitter, and a pipe from middle back. A kill is when they hit the ball and it eliminates the play, earning the point. DeGroot and Guglielmana excel in all attacking positions, a primary reason for their success.
DeGroot and Guglielmana have been on varsity together since their freshman year. DeGroot finds this final season to be bittersweet, and continuously articulates that her faith serves as her foundation through it all.
“Honestly, I want to give all the glory to God because I never thought that I would be recognized for this when I was a freshman,” DeGroot said. “I would never want to take for granted the gifts He has given me!”
DeGroot has a total of 1,173 kills, accumulated from the past four seasons. Guglielmana has 1133 recorded kills, 1,121 digs and 1,371 assists over the course of her high school career. With four league matches remaining until playoffs, and a potential extended month during the playoff bracket, there is plenty of time for each girl to attain more touches before they graduate.
The celebration of these two accomplished athletes comes easily, as they are not only upstanding players but also upstanding teammates. Junior, Brooklyn Samarin, has shared the court with DeGroot and Guglielmana all season and admires who they are inside and outside the gym.
“I look up to Sarah and Jordyn because they show what it looks like to be great volleyball players, all while being positive teammates who show great sportsmanship and, above all, play for the glory of God,” Samarin said. “They have shown me what genuine friendship is like. Specifically, Jordyn has demonstrated to me and our whole team her love for the Lord and always reminds us of his faithfulness through trials.”
The Eagles currently stand first in their league with a 5-0 record.
The next FC Varsity Girls Volleyball home game is 10/16 vs Yosemite, the theme is pink out.
To read more from The Feather check out Odyssey Soccer Sets the Standard or Ring Ceremony: Track and Field.