Silver Creek Girls Volleyball Team Goes to Regionals

For the first time in years, Silver Creek High School’s volleyball team makes its way to regionals. Making a huge comeback, the Raptors are filled with pride.

Silver Creek’s volleyball team has worked hard so they could qualify for regionals for the first time in over five years. The team’s success stems from hard practices, long days, and plenty of team bonding. Presley Baginski, a senior at Silver Creek, felt that the moment seemed unreal.

“It’s surprising to me,” she said. “We all work so hard, and we earned our spot going to regionals.”

Baginski felt a strong urge to win the tournament so that the team could go to regionals.

“I remember during our last game of the tournament, all I was thinking about was going to regionals and winning all the games, so we could go to regionals,” Baginski said.

The week leading up to regionals carries a heavy but motivating weight for the team.

“This week of practice has definitely made us more connected,” Baginski said., “I think everybody felt close to each other, just because we were so happy and proud of ourselves.”

Alongside the players and coaches, the parents in the stands have noticed an impact on the season. Meredith Campie, a parent of two of the girls on the team, one senior and one freshman, said she was proud of all the effort the girls have really put in.

“There’s been a lot more consistency,” said Campie.“Coach Ayers is building a program, not just a specific team.” She continues on about the team. “I think it’s the camaraderie.They’re able to lean on each other.”

Campie also states that the most of the work that the girls put in, the fans don’t see.

“The conditioning, the weight training, the agility training they did, the extra practices, the weekend tournaments, the weeklong camp they did,” Campie said.

It’s not just this year that has contributed to their success.

“I’ve seen such growth in the past two years,” Campie said. “That leads back again to building the program, not just a diverse team…but building that teamwork.”

The head coach for the volleyball team, Rachael Ayers, who became head coach only two years ago, shows that going to regionals has been a very good goal.

“It feels great, I think the girls are really excited.” Ayers said. “Two years ago, when I just walked in as head coach, our goal was exactly this.”

Ayers explains that it’s not just getting to regionals but also building something for the long term team, the whole program.

“This is where all the hard work pays off,” she said. “We’re the pavers, and the pavers have to work harder to establish culture and tradition. It’s about knowing what we’re about and knowing that we’re building something great.”