Gateway volleyball seeks improvement, playoff berth

By: Shawn Annarelli
Friday, September 6, 2019 | 8:04 PM

Coming off of a 2-12 record in Section 1-3A last year, Gateway’s girls volleyball team hopes the rough road it endured has set the stage for a bounce-back season.

The Gators felt a Tuesday game against Armstrong, which went undefeated in the section in 2018, showed their potential in a 3-1 loss. Down 2-0 going into the third set, Gateway pulled out a 26-24 win and exchanged leads in the fourth set only to fade at the end for a 25-20 loss.

“Even with a loss, to take a set against a program like Armstrong is fantastic and a big step in the right direction,” coach Phil Randolph said. “That showed we’re close to turning a corner and surprising some people.”

Gateway’s goal is to end its playoff drought at one season after having made it to the postseason in 2016 and ’17.

Randolph began the team’s efforts by implementing a voluntary practice schedule in the summer that he felt could strengthen the girls and the boys teams by putting them together with “tweener” nets.

“We hope with the programs working closely together in more of a year-round fashion, we’ll get the best of worlds for everyone,” Randolph said. “We’re reinventing everything we’re doing on our terms.”

The two teams working together has already paid off, according to senior co-captain Sai Namasivayam.

“It definitely made us work harder to be more prepared to play against our section, and I think we showed (against Armstrong) that we could fight for every point and play as a team,” Namasivayam said. “Knowing they are a favorite this year, it gave us a positive mindset that we’ll improve over last year.”

Gateway will be led by six seniors.

Namasivayam, who Randolph likened to a stink bug because she always seems to be everywhere, will play libero. She’ll be joined by sisters Macy Perry, a defensive specialist, and Sydney Perry, a setter.

The team’s hitters will be led by Malia Quarles, who “swings as hard as most guys and can turn any game around,” according to Randolph. Senior middle hitter Giana Miller will be a starter, and senior Makayla Harris will be a welcome addition when she returns from an injury.

“I don’t think anyone is expecting us to make a lot of noise, but I kind of like that,” Randolph said. “We’re coming in under the radar, but we what we did this summer made us stronger physically, mentally and better than we were a year ago. The end goal is the playoffs.”

Another trip to the playoffs, Namasivayam said, would be the perfect sendoff for the team’s seniors.

“It’s a really cool feeling knowing I’ve been with these five other girls for the last six years, and we’ll have so many great memories,” Namasivayam said. “It’s definitely a little sad, too. It’s in our minds that this is our last shot and we want to end it on a good note.”

Tags: Gateway