The Malibu girls’ volleyball team was victorious on two fronts last Thursday night against Oak Park, amid a festive scene that saw the student body rush the court.
First, the Sharks embraced Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their pre-match ‘Dig Pink’ tribute to women afflicted with the terrible disease. It was an emotional yet inspirational moment for everyone there.
Then they went out and played their best match of the season; a 25-15, 25-19, 19-25, 15-25, 15-13 victory that saw the MHS student body rush the floor and swarm the team.
“We had this feel-good vibe in the gym and I think the girls decided that we need to win. They wanted it today,” Malibu first-year coach Airess Padda said. “This is what high school is about, coming together as a group with all this energy for a good cause. We want moments like this. I am so happy that we could bring ‘Dig Pink’ here and honor such an important awareness.”
Amidst a sea of pink uniforms, balloons, streamers and breast cancer awareness symbols, the evening began with cancer survivor Sally Stripp speaking to the audience in attendance. Stripp, whose daughter Claire plays on the Sharks’ junior varsity volleyball team, shared her appreciation and thoughts on what the evening meant to her. The team raised $135 in donations to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
“It was great what the coaches did getting all this together. It’s great that everyone recognizes what people have been through,” Stripp said. “And it’s great that Malibu won too.”
As she spoke to the large crowd, Claire stood and admired her mother, who has been cancer-free for three-and-half years now.
“It was really special. It brought back the emotions and everything,” Claire said. “It was really shocking when she first got it. But when she beat it I was speechless.”
Malibu (2-6 in league) then proceeded to take the court and play motivated and sometimes near-flawless volleyball. The Sharks jumped out to a two-game advantage behind Chelsea Bostwick and Hunter Bohm.
Bostwick converted multiple kills and Bohm, who recorded a game-high 20 digs to go along with 14 kills and four aces, made several diving digs to keep rallies alive and give MHS opportunities for points.
“With the crowd and everything, we were really pumped up,” Bohm said. “We wanted to do it for the people who have breast cancer.”
Oak Park rallied by taking the next two games as the Sharks’ early aggressive play abandoned them.
But with the student body and football team cheering them on, the girls dug deep for the penultimate game.
Dasha Iarikova’s kill and subsequent ace gave the Sharks a 9-4 lead. Oak Park made a run to cut the deficit to 10-9 and later tie the game at 13-13. But back-to-back kills by Bostwick and Ally Sidley tipped the final game in Malibu’s favor, sending the crowd into a tizzy.
The student body stampeded the court and mobbed the victorious Sharks.
“I wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way,” said Padda, who called the match a “great fight. I am just super proud of these girls. It’s what I’ve been waiting for all season.”
Iarikova finished with nine kills and 10 aces while Agaly DeJesus dished out 60 assists. Danica Downing added 15 kills and 18 digs and Devyn Masterson contributed 26 digs and 12 assists.
“It was quite amazing. We have never come together like that as a team,” Bohm said. “We did and we won.”
While the fight to beat cancer continues, the Sharks won indeed, both on the court and off.