Volleyball team earning foes’ respect

To the editor

By:
   This letter is in response to the recent sports article "HHS teams set for awesome October" published in the Sept. 30 issue.
   I am a player on HHS’s girls volleyball team, and I was extremely disheartened when I read the volleyball section within this article. In the two miniscule paragraphs in which the volleyball team was represented by, the Beacon wrote, "Don’t expect much when the team takes on perennial powers like Hunterdon Central and Bridgewater Raritan…"
   As a senior player, I am sure that on behalf of this team it is safe to say that the Beacon’s comments on our team were completely out of line. Is this the way you would like to highlight and advertise this new team? Yes, I do understand that we are in fact a first-year team, and, yes, maybe our skills may not match those of Central and BR, but have you been at any of our games or any of our practices?
   Obviously not, because game after game we continue to surprise not only our fans, but more importantly, the other teams as well. Coaches from the other teams are amazed by our ability, dedication, perseverance, and heart that we demonstrate at each game and practice despite the fact that we are such a new team.
   If you actually had gone to the home game against BR on Sept. 28, you would have seen all of our hard work; I can honestly say that you would be just as surprised as the other teams, because our team will not go down without a fight.
   We may not win every game, but the other teams better be prepared to step up to the challenge, because we are not about to let our lack of experience discourage us. Likewise, we may not have joined this team as extremely experienced players, but every one of my teammates is an amazing athlete, and as Coach Sudol likes to say, "We are all smarter than the average first-year volleyball player."
   This team has come so far already; we still have a long road of improvement (and victories) ahead of us, so please do not disregard this team.
   To say that one "can’t expect much" from us is not at all accurate and is certainly not the support that this first-year team needs.
   Therefore, Mr. Brandl, I would like to encourage you to come see one of our games, and we will prove to you just how wrong you are.

Maggie Henry
Marshall Road