THE BOLT (October 2013)

September 2013

20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657

Volume 13, Issue 1

Presenting:

Aida

By Tess Hezlep Staff Writer

Photos by Maddi Bukaty

Sydney Endicott ‘14 - Aida

Keivon Akbari ‘14 - Radames

“The show will be splendid and a really

“ It’s a long process but I think it’s going to be worth it in the end.”

good time.”

Lauren Anderson ‘14 - Amneris Opening night for Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida is getting closer and closer. As the cast and crew vigorously rehearses to perfect the show as a whole, the lead roles gave us some perspective about what they’re feeling and what we, the audience, can expect.

Keivon Akbari, playing Radames, has toiled for long hours with Mike Walker, the musical director, and Brandon Kruhm, the head stage director, to improve his voice, presence and focus.

“We’ve been doing a lot of choreography, blocking and a lot of stage work…it’s a long process but I think it’s going to be worth it in the end,” he said.

Akbari believes that the “full heart and soul” of the cast can make Aida

“I have a deep connection with Amneris, and that connection has caused me to grow as a person and an actress.”

live up to last year’s renowned musical, Les Miserables, and possibly even surpass the former’s success.

“I love the secrecy of the love story,” he said. “It’s just so unique in that emotion, so that’s probably my favorite part about the show.” Akbari eagerly anticipates what the Sage community will witness in the future.

Another excited lead is Lauren Anderson, who plays Amneris. She claims she has conflicting emotions about opening night but that the good feelings outweigh the bad.

The road she has taken to get to those fifteen minutes to curtain has

been fulfilling and introspective.

“I’ve had a connection to Amneris,” Anderson said. “She’s someone who cares a lot about her appearance and acting a certain way in front of her people, but inside she really just wants love and acceptance.”

In the show, Amneris goes through a life-altering experience that changes the way she sees herself and how she sees the future.

“I, myself, have recently gone through a similar experience,” Anderson said. “I think that’s why I have a deep connection with Amneris, and that connection has caused me to grow

as a person and an actress.”

The star of the show, the eponymous Aida herself, played by Sydney Endicott, is looking forward to the future.

“Everyone, come out and support the Sage Hill Studio,” Endicott said.

“The show will be splendid and a really good time.”

Opening Night: Thursday, Nov. 7, 7-9 p.m.

When: Nov. 7-9 p.m.

Where: Black Box Theater Tickets: buy online or at the door

2

SCHOOL LIFE

Freshman Memories

Fresh Faces. Freshman girls (from left) Ava Kahn, Laurenz Dodge, Paige Solaas, Puja Patel, Isabel Garcia Helin and Sahar Rohani crowd around Sydney Endicott to pose for a picture. Freshman and Juniors bonded during retreat.

By Maddi Bukaty Staff Writer

Just a few weeks into their first year of high school, the freshman class, along with the Peer Counselors and members of SAME, migrated to Big Bear for three days.

Upon their arrival to the facilities of Cedar Lake Camp, the freshmen eagerly scrounged the dormitory doors for their advisory’s rooms and hauled their luggage inside them. After orientation in the outdoor amphitheater, everyone enjoyed a couple hours of free time, and many people chose to swim, canoe or simply lounge by the lake.

Sahar Rohani said, “The beauty of nature made you want to not be on your phone, and want to actually talk to people…Out in the wild, you focus on the more important things.”

Because the freshmen had almost a month to meet people at school, a lot of friendships were already established by the time retreat came around. However, what retreat really enabled was bonding within advisory groups.

“We spent so much time together we couldn’t not be friends,” said Rohani.

Advisories were designated plenty of time to spend together talking about their goals for the retreat, for the year, and for the next

four years. Most of the freshmen’s goals were to meet new people, and to get settled into high school.

guitar and singing.

The freshmen retreat has stayed much the same over the last years; there are still high ropes courses, Freshmen a wilderness hike and a zip line. co-chair Kate Kelly said that retreat “brought Kelly said that everyone together because we did after the retreat exercises where we had to rely on she “knew eveach other.” eryone and it Despite the similarity of retreat was less awkitself over the years, each class of ward, and they new freshmen who go through it were all really bring their own flair. Their quirkinice.” ness makes this year’s freshmen The second particularly interesting to get to night of retreat, several freshmen know. From competitive gymnast bravely shared something they love Alex Escalera to singer-songwriter to do with everyone at the talent Julia Blatz, the class of 2017 is such show. Among the performers were a diverse class, filled with unique Freshmen co-chairs Kate Kelly and people who each bring a distinctly Nelson Kim, Maya Woodworth, personal past experience to Sage.

Cole Mitchell, Julia Dupuis, Omead Some come from other countries, Moini, Emily Lassiter, Julia Blatz, some have lived in Newport their Albert Son and many more. whole lives, but they will grow toKelly said about the talent show, gether over the next four years and “I was really nervous but I was learn to call Sage home. really happy afterwards…because Senior Peer Counselor NatasI put myself out there and now cha King reflects on her time on people knew I was there.” retreat, “It was pretty surreal being “I just kind of wanted people in the same environment but in a to know that I existed,” said Blatz. different position. I was surprised After her great perwhen I got there formance at town at how reflective meeting last week, it caused me to Blatz should have no be about all my such worries. time at Sage. It Talents included didn’t really set violin, guitar, singin that this was ing, pirate-loving, my last year until and acting. Math I was back at the teacher Joe Diorio retreat. It was also made an apa great experipearance playing the ence because it

really brought everything back full circle and encouraged me to make the most out of my senior year.

It was so nice being surrounded

by PC’s that are in the same position because we could all be a little emotional together.”

Most of the Peer Counselors felt a little nostalgic returning to retreat, but they were able to identify with the freshmen because they realized that at this time next year, that will be them. Freshmen. Starting all over again as the newbies in a completely novel environment.

So this opportunity to witness friendships budding and people meeting for the first time was only a telling preview of what is to come for the class of 2014.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

3

Protected by the Pixels

nasty. Ask.fm, a trending site that allows people to anonymously ask their friends questions, is We pride ourselves on having a controversial. Some love the nonculture of openness, in every sense password-protected site that allows of the word. We are open to learnthem to share “embarrassing” facts ing about beliefs and cultures that under the guise of “I had to; it’s ask. are different from our own. We fm.” Many, however, report that are open in our approach to acaask.fm is a classic case of TMI. demics, always seeking new and

“It’s stupid and a waste of innovative ways to learn. Most time,” said senior Alex Sun. “People importantly, we are open when it really don’t want to know about comes to each other. The campus that stuff. It’s just naïve and unnecis a place where every student feels essary.” accepted and valued, celebrated as

The same goes for Instapart of a greater community whole. gram, Twitter and any other mediaOur openness is what makes us sharing site with which teenagers “sagey.” But the question is: can we can overshare. We have the potenbe open to receiving criticism we tial to do as much harm as we have may not want to hear? For examto do good. However, as products ple, are we as “sagey” online as we of the social media age, we have a are on campus? The answer is not right to express ourselves; a right always clear. that many Sage students defend.

The question of Sage’s

“It is ultimately the individinternet culture was most recently ual’s decision to use it,” said senior brought to light by a fake Facebook Cole Solaas, with regards to ask. page. I recall being friended one fm. “I prefer to say I am more for it day by “I’Zheet L’m,” a fake Facethan against it.” book persona with whom I had

So, members of the Sage more than 200 mutual friends from community can’t be “sagey” every Sage. When strange statuses mimminute of every day. We are teenagicking the Mongolian language ers, after all, and we’re still learning began to clog my newsfeed, I wasn’t how to navigate a world dominated sure whether to be amused or apby social media. So how do we palled. move forward? How can we em “At first, I had to laugh,” brace the many opportunities and said a Sage student who prefers to advantages that social media offers, remain anonymous. “Then it really without making fools of ourselves sunk in, and I realized how messed in a bright-screened world that isn’t up it was. It was totally racist really real? against Mongolian people.”

We have to remember that

A few brave Sage students we are a community made up of decided to pursue the issue. They individuals. Without every one confronted the supporters of the of the students who attends Sage, page online, explaining to them our city on the hill would not be why they felt their joke was not re- the same. We have to teach each ally so funny. The page still exists, other, be kind to one another, and despite the uproar, and its creator forgive each other, always working remains unidentified. together toward a better, more ac “I just was disappointed to cepting future. That’s the upside to see it,” one student recalled. “It’s mistakes; we can learn from them, not the Sage I know.” if we so choose.

Fake Facebook pages are

And learning is one thing not the only example of Sage stuthat Sage students are certainly dents acting “non-sagey” within open to. the privacy of their homes. Many social media sites offer convenient vehicles for gossip that can turn

By Joelle Nanula Executive Editor of The Bolt

Image Credit: Catherine Mai

Gender Blindness staff editorial The curse of being privileged is that urge to “fix” problems, existent and nonexistent. Sage Hill, unfortunately, is not exempt from this urge. For example, the administration has focused a recent campaign against social sexism while completely overlooking actual gender divisions at Sage.

The Day of the Girl two weeks ago gathered all of the female students from their traditional advisory settings to celebrate their gender. For some girls, the ceremony was a chance to chill in a relaxed setting with other advisories. The school supplied headbands for girls to write various terms of empowerment, which included “HBIC,” “Don’t be a douche” and “meow.”

However in one senior advisory, some girls called the event “overly PC” and “like segregation.”

While it may feel nice for the administrators to pat themselves on the back for their proactive measures, they may be overlooking actual gender issues at Sage.

Out of 26 total students in the prestigious Multivariable Calculus course, only five are girls. In the

Publications Staff

Co-Editors-in-Chief: Tiana Lowe ‘14 and Erika Lynn-Green ‘14 Executive Editors: Nellie Hamadani ‘15, The Sage Hill Storm Michelle Min ’15, The Bolt Online - Joelle Nanula ‘14, The Bolt Managing Editor: Hawken Miller ‘15 Photography Editor: Emily Shimano ‘14 Section Editors:

Academics: Claire Goul ‘15

Arts: Namita Prakash ‘16

Online: Kellen Ochi ‘15 and Amelia Tanner ‘16

Seniors: Maddi Bukaty ‘14

three blocks of AP Physics C, only three of 25 students are girls.

The gender challenge at Sage is not about whether or not girls feel pressured to stay pretty and thin. One Sage senior said that Sage “doesn’t have an image problem.”

“We like to be pretty because we’re proud, not pressured,” another said. So while school-sponsored events like Day of the Girl and Finding Kind focus on girls embracing their gender, we should really be learning how to be “gender blind.”

Some may argue that Sage does not operate on gender lines, but statistics beg to differ. Only seven of the 25 students in AP English Literature are male, showing that even in our own little microcosm, males and females alike appear in their respective stereotypes.

We cannot say how to solve this problem, only that it cannot continue to be ignored if Sage wants to maintain its reputation and role as a progressive and demographic-blind educational institution. Instead of celebrating something as arbitrary as gender, we must work to break down the barriers that confine them.

Sports: Maddy Abbott ‘15 and Kavi Sakraney ‘14

Student Life: Kristin Saroyan ‘16

Underclassmen: Ingrid Dickinson ‘15 and Bailey Super ‘15 Staff:

Elizabeth Alvarez ‘15 - Cindy Choi ‘16 - Megan Diaz ‘14 -

Claire Dwyer ‘16 - Tess Hezlep ‘16 - Kiana Jodeiry ‘14 Selin Karaoguz ‘15 - Rebecca Lynskey ‘14 - Catherine Mai ‘14 -

Kandis McGee ‘17 - Stephanie Min ‘17 - Brittany Murphy ‘15 -

Jackie Nam ‘16 - Celine Wang ‘16 Publications Adviser: Konnie Krislock

FEATURES

5

College DEADLINES 11.1

Early Decision Deadline

TO THE BEAT OF YOUR OWN DRUM. (Clockwise from upper left) Junior Milad Rohani speaks on stage with other members of his TEDx presentation. SHAME OF CONFORMITY. The TEDx interacts with the audience rather than merely preach. MANAGING THE STRESS. Senior Preethi Seshadri works in the College Counseling office with a smile. IN UNISON. The strength of a community does not just lie in numbers, but in passion. THE KING’S SPEECH. Rohani stuns the crowd with his natural flair for public speaking.

Improved College Counseling

By Kavi Sakraney Sports Editor

With approaching college application deadlines this fall season, seniors and college counselors are busy finishing applications and letters of recommendation. This year, however, it is not just the seniors that are working with the counselors, because the College Counseling Department at Sage Hill has changed. Franklin Smith, Director of College Counseling, pointed out, “In spring we spend a lot of time with seniors and in fall we spend a lot of time with juniors.” There was not enough time to work with underclassmen, and this realization sparked the creation of the Dean of Ninth and Tenth Grade College Counseling.

Greg McCandless fills this role starting this year. He explained, “there wasn’t anyone dedicated to helping ninth and tenth grade students with questions about college.”

But do freshmen and sophomores really need to be thinking about college? Why should they have to worry about the difficult process so early? Won’t they endure enough stress as juniors and seniors?

College Counseling says they do not want to scare or stress students by starting too early or making them unable to enjoy high school. Instead, College Counseling wants to encourage students to take full advantage of Sage Hill opportunities. McCandless said, “I look at my position as an academics and extracurricular advisor.”

Smith elaborates on how this new role really benefits ninth and tenth graders. He explained, “The change is not to help [underclassmen] pick out a college. It is to maximize their high school experience. More information on the front end leads to more informed decisions when they go through the process.”

One underclassman who has begun working with McCandless could not agree more.

Sophomore Namita Prakash said, “I thought the meeting was very beneficial because it put my future in perspective, and it assured me that I was on the right track.”

“I love the ninth and tenth graders, and the position allows me to teach more,” McCandless remarked. His move from Director of College Counselor to Dean of Ninth and Tenth Grade left a hole that another upperclassmen college counselor would need to fill.

Andrew Losier joins Sage Hill this year as Associate Director of College Counseling.

With 8 years of college counseling experience, Losier chose to work on the high school side of college counseling after serving as Associate Director of Admission at University of Denver.

For those high school students who have a clear top choice of college, and who want to boost their chances of admission as much as possible, there is the Early Decision option. Early Decision applications are due earlier and are binding. A student applying Early Decision to a school must attend if admitted.

11.30

U.C. Application Deadline

The UC system receives so many applications it is a wonder their admissions office has time to read them all. It’s no surprise, then, that U.C. schools require applications be submitted by Nov. 30, rather than in January to give them time to process them all. Remember that UC schools do not accept the Common Application; there is a special UC application you must complete.

11/12

Early Action Deadlines

Early Action is the smaller, less intimidating cousin of Early Decision.

It lets you know sooner whether or not you have been admitted, but without the stress of a binding contract. Early Action pools are also not correlated with higher admit rates. Check your college list for Early Action deadlines. Dates vary among different schools, but usually range from mid-November to mid-December.

1.1

Regular Decision Deadline

Most schools set their deadline for Regular Decision applications at the beginning of January. Regular Decision is the route that most high school students choose; you can apply to as many schools as you wish and by March have your pick of all the schools to which you are accepted. If you’ve fallen in love with more than one school, or aren’t sure if you love any school yet, Regular Decision is a smart way to cast a broad net.

FEATURES

4

Creating Culture

By Tiana Lowe Editor-in-Chief

Cue the lights and mind the gap, because the teens at the TEDx Bommer Canyon group are ready to take the world by storm.

On Saturday, October 20, The Bommer Canyon kids put on their third annual youth conference, called Mind the Gap in reference to the leap between conception and creation.

“Mind the Gap is specific to the individual, and the course they’ve taken in their lives,” Sage junior Milad Rohani said. “Mind the Gap is about finding balance, and to have the courage to overcome any obstacles along the way.”

Rohani has been an integral part of the group, abbreviated to TEDxYBC, since its beginning. Rohani, whose own entrepreneurship, drive and charisma have greatly contributed to the county-wide group, which simulates the traditional TED experience but with a community focus.

TEDxYBC collaborates with local businesses such as Planet Beauty, Vitaly and even The Lab, which is owned by junior Nikolai and freshman Dominic Sadeghi’s parents.

The youth group circumvents Orange County’s lack of a downtown or central quarter by drawing from the OC’s diverse culture, embracing and funding independent art projects, social demonstrations and beginning other independent TED groups.

“TED has opened me to an entirely new world of connection and knowledge. I feel significantly more connected to the community because of TED, and that I can indeed make a difference,” Rohani noted. “I’ve had the chance to make connections with people like young, eight year-old kids who ask me how to multiply to incredibly accomplished people like the creator of Visio, Ken Lowe.”

The stories told at the conference vividly demonstrated this stunning impact. Laguna Beach High School senior Anika Larsen discussed the problem of social media replacing actual relationships for Gen X, Ys, and Millennials.

DKNY and Michael Kors designer Mun Ng reflected on growing up in

“a high expectations home” while trying to pursue his dreams as an artist. The speakers, however, were far from the soapbox and kept their relatable messages far from preaching.

At the core of the TEDx experience are the ideas, which are ultimately meant to help each

respective community grow more cohesive and strong as a whole.

“An idea worth spreading is one that can make an impact in the community,” Rohani reflected.

“Whether that impact affects the entire community, or just one person, that idea is worthy of being spread.”

ARTS

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MUSICAL PAINTING. Senior Natascha King mixes paint to her favorite tunes during a normal day in the AP Studio Art classroom.

The Artistic Power of Three

By Catherine Mai Staff

In AP Studio Art, the students are independent, and a typical class consists of mellow music and palette knives brushing against the canvases.

Three students fill a messy classroom covered in oil paint, pens, and watercolor paint. And yet the classroom seems so small, as each student takes at least two tables.

“I feel as if there’s not enough room, but there are only four of us here!” Donna Okamura, Arts Department, said.

Seniors Claudia Noto, Natascha King and Catherine Mai discuss depth, color and much more with Okamura during every class period.

In the past, few Sage students have taken AP Studio Art

because of the demanding requirements. At its peak, there were four students in the class, but Okamura remembers once having only one student.

“I chose AP art because I thought that it would be a challenge for me,” said King. “Even though it takes a lot of time and effort, at the end of the year I can tell that I will have some great work.”

The AP requirements direct students to create 24 pieces of art, 12 breadth and 12 concentration pieces, in eight months.

Sometimes, students can spend most of their free time living in the world of Okamura’s classroom. Once every three weeks (when a concentration piece is due), the three students sit for a critique while eating pretzels and nutella.

And yet, these three ambitious students enjoy the rigorous aspect of the course and pursue

PENCIL SKETCH MASTERMIND. Senior Claudia Noto dives competely into her drawing during another typical day of AP Studio Art.

their passion—and when they start a piece of art, it is hard for them to stop.

“I think that what challenges me the most is the amount of work I have to produce in such a short amount of time. Not just because of time, but because there’s pressure to think creatively under tight constraints and the pressure of an AP test,” King noted.

The class vibe is quite enjoyable, as Noto says: “It’s an interesting yet demanding class to be in, but it’s a time where I can relax and forget about everything else.”

Right now, Noto, King, Mai and Okamura are working on acrylic and oil paintings on 5-by-7 foot canvases using metal and plastic palette knives.

Okamura, King and Mai are painting architectural subjects while Noto is painting succulents from her AP Environmental Science class.

“This painting gets me into a mode where I can’t hear anyone or think about anything else besides this painting. It’s my escape from reality. I can’t wait to see the outcome and the layers and layers of paint on the canvases,” Mai said.

The huge canvas paintings are a sketchbook assignment, which the students complete after finishing a concentration work.

“There’s never a break. You could be working on four different pieces at once,” said Mai.

For the concentration pieces, Noto uses watercolor and pen and ink to paint the indigenous plants that she takes pictures of. King also takes advantage of the new watercolor paints as she concentrates on different views of buildings. Mai creates colorful architectural landscapes while making use of the new 100-piece pen set, stipuling cityscapes of Singapore and San Francisco.

SPORTS

7

Competing in the Varsity jumpers division, Freshman Elena Bonvicini is one of the many great new additions to the equestrian team which earned 208 points, the second highest score in the J.V. division on Oct. 12.

Fresh Equestrian Enthusiasm

By Kristin Saroyan Staff Writer

The equestrian team has grown in numbers and enthusiasm as freshmen joined the team this year.

Collectively, the team earned 208 points­­­­--the second highest score in the J.V. division--during their first horse show over the weekend of Oct. 12.

“The equestrian team this year has not only evolved and grown in size but also from a supportive standpoint,” junior Rebecca Fudge said. “We have tons of new freshmen on the team this year which is really cool because it gives the

upperclassmen a chance to meet the new lower classmen.”

These new freshmen include Elena Bonvicini, who competes in the varsity jumpers and equitation,

Naomi Houillon and Catharine Malzahn, who compete in J.V., and Tiffany Chen, who competes in the freshman division.

Another factor contributing to

GOLFERS EXCEL in the Classroom

By Hawken Miller Staff Writer

For the past two years, Sage Hill boys’ and girls’ varsity golf teams have been acknowledged for their academic excellence. The large wall sized posters flanking either side of the gym are proof of these consecutive accomplishments.

Like the rest of the school, the Girls’ Varsity golf team is excelling both athletically and scholastically this year. Varsity coach Nicole Middaugh knows the value that intelligence can bring to the game.

“Golf is a very strategic game and you have to let your brain dictate your actions, not your emotions,” she explained. “Being able to see the angles and the structure of the landscape takes a lot of brain power.”

According to Athletic Director Megan Cid, “the average GPA for

returning golfers is over a 4.0 and the 5 upperclassmen on the team take 22 weighted courses.” Sophomore Michelle Chen leads the team in these statistics, having the greatest grade point average among the team. “She is the academic superstar of the team,” said Megan Cid said.

Sophomore Namita Prakash described the team’s accomplishments as “amazing, because I appreciate how our team has been able to strike a balance between academics and sports.” Prakash, along with the rest of the team, wishes to keep this streak of academic and athletic performance far into the future. “It is also a really important quality that we must consider in order to achieve greatness in the future,” she said.

Going into the last game of the season, the Girls’ Varsity golf team is 5 - 3 overall, and 4 - 1 in league games.

the equestrian’s team success is the closeness of the girls on the team.

“On the team, we get to bond and make friends that we wouldn’t normally meet if we weren’t on the equestrian team. We have the opportunity to ride horses and make new friends at the same time,” Malzahn said.

“We all bond over our shared knowledge of the time, effort and skill required to succeed at horse shows,” Fudge said. “Horse shows tend to last [more than] four hours, which means that we spend a lot of time getting to know each other, sharing stories about our horses and cheering for each other.”

V 8

SPORTS

“

It’s hard to explain this team in words; it is most definitely something to see ‑Halland Mckenna

By Maddy Abbott Sports Editor

“

#8 IN THE O.C.

GOING FOR THE KILL: Sophomore Natalie Moshayedi sets up

senior Juliette Singarella for a point out of the middle against Oxford Academy which the Lightning won in 3 straight sets. Girls’ volleyball is undefeated and #8 among Orange County’s top 10 programs going into the last two weeks of the season before CIF.

Nov. 17, 2012. The night of the CIF Division 3-A final, when the Lightning fell short of a consecutive victory over the St. Margaret’s Tartans. This defeat motivated this year’s desperate need for revenge over our rival school, and, along this journey, we realized our potential to beat teams, literally, out of our league.

The 2013 Varsity team made Sage Hill School history recently—we landed a #8 spot among the top 10 volleyball teams in Orange County. As a school of only 480 kids, it is, simply put, incredible that we could be considered among some of the top high school volleyball programs in not only our state, but also the country.

The Sage Hill Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team holds a special place in my heart. As the team’s setter, I am lucky enough to have a part in almost every single play that happens on our side of the net. Yet, I feel more fortunate that I have the opportunity to be apart of every aspect of my teammate’s lives, on and off the court.

As a team composed of three freshmen, four sophomores, four juniors and four seniors, it would be easy to assume that an element of disconnect might appear between the old and the new, the newcomers and the returners. But, as sophomore Lina Aluzri said, the strong bond between each individual girl is unique and special.

Our freshman have really stepped up to the plate and shown their ability to compete at a high level; they are constantly motivating our returners with their love for the game and their drive to improve. Our sophomores, three out of four new to the team, are vital components of our team dynamic, for they understand the goals that we want to reach and never let us forget the work that needs to be done to accomplish these feats.

“My first year on varsity has been a complete transition from junior varsity last year because of the dedication and commitment these girls provide,” Aluzri said.

“They inspire me to work hard to reach a balanced level. We have an

awesome group of girls who are always trying their hardest to get better.”

The 2013 team, which started off the season as Silver Division Champions of the Ann Kang Tournament in Hawaii, went into preseason with something to prove. We finished ninth in the Dave Mohs Tournament competing with Division 1 schools like Edison, Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, Orange Lutheran and Huntington Beach.

Coming into season, our goal was to win league. Now, about halfway through the season, we are hoping to beat Crean in their gym and St. Margaret’s at home, and then travel as far through CIF as possible. Despite the fact that it still is relatively early in the season, each girl has already seen the fruits of the hard work, determination and time that we have devoted to this team and our goals.

The seniors on the team, opposite Sophia Gordon, middle blocker Juliette Singarella, libero Claudia Noto, and libero Alexandra Mowrey, hold us together through intense victories and tough losses.

These girls are perfect representatives of Sage Hill student-athletes, for though their dedication to our sport is unparalleled, their dedication to our school is what makes Sage unique. Each senior is a role model not only to younger girls in the program, but also to our community.

This will be my third year playing alongside these seniors, and the memories I share with these girls are some of my most prized possessions. I truly consider these four girls inspirations, as well as my best friends, and our team would be lost without their continual grace and poise.

Junior Halland Mckenna captured the spirit of the team: “It’s hard to explain this team in words; it is most definitely something to see,” she said.

“The way we interact both on and off the court is more than how teammates act, as cliché as it sounds. Our team is made up of such a well-rounded and accomplished group of girls who support one another both on and off the court, during season, and during the offseason—that’s what sets us apart from other teams.”

The support of our fans also plays a role in a love for our sport and school, and for that, Sage Hill Girls’ Volleyball thanks everyone who has come out and supported, as well as welcomes anyone in the future who wants to come and be a part of the program.