On August 26, 2025, Quartz Hill High School took on Serrano’s Diamondbacks girls volleyball team. The Royals came in hot with their first luau home game against the Serrano Diamondbacks. The ladies kicked it off with a cruising first set win, showing the crowd and the opposing team how tough and improved the team has gotten, with an ending set score of 25-19 Royals. 

Serrano, feeling the pressure, comes into the 2nd set looking for a way to respond. Both teams step onto the court, the Royals full of smiles and ready to take set 2. The set begins, and already from the beginning, the Diamondbacks show the Royals a response. As volleyball is about a game of runs, Serrano found their rhythm going on an impressive serving streak, making Quartz Hill crumble. The home team, struggling to side out, ended up losing the set 15-25 to Serrano.

Stepping into the 3rd set, the gym is feeling the tense atmosphere. Serrano continued to play with the same momentum from the last set, holding the lead on Quartz Hill. The Royals, trying to stay in the game as they’re down 10 points, suddenly flip a switch. #7 Senior Orinayo Olukanmi, outside hitter, is a player to continue looking out for as she’s a threat at the net every time she’s on the court. Every ball set to her was nearly a kill every time. With an electrifying performance all throughout the game, boosting the team’s morale brings Quartz Hill to the start of a comeback. As the players go point for point, with everyone on the court playing at their best, not letting that ball fall on their side. Both teams with impressive saves left to right reaching a score of 25-25, moving into a win by 2. Everyone in the crowd is on their feet, the opposing team side yelling with a roaring set point, the Royals win 28-26.

Everyone was still in awe, unable to expect what would happen in the 4th set, Royals up 2-1. Quartz Hill still played with the same confidence, making the game look easy. #2 Junior Kaci Burton, outside hitter, is another player to continue looking out for as she shocks everyone with her impressive attacking skills. Finding her way around the block, being able to tool off the blocker’s hands, and aggressive swings. The home team reaches match point 24-15. The players and crowd expected the game to end soon. Serrano goes up to serve and aces. The Diamondbacks, on the edge of losing, begin to break down Quartz Hill’s receiving line with serves that continue to catch them off guard. The Royals are still at match point as Serrano slowly creeps up in score. Point after point, Serrano ties the score 24-24. No one expected this to happen as they traded points 25-25. The Royals fight their way, securing another match point as #22 Senior Terra Wheeler, played as a libero this match, reaches the service line and closes out the cinematic game with a service ace 27-25 Royals. The girls were finally able to relax, celebrate winning their first home game despite the bumpy roads they had to overcome.

After an exciting and bumpy game, Gabriela Norman #10 says, “I think the team’s overall performance was really good. I think we had a few mistakes here and there but it’s going to happen and that’s okay but we took the win in the end.” With more thought she adds onto what she was saying, “I think we realized energy was a big thing when the energy got low we weren’t playing as good the first set we did really good and won very quickly towards the end we had less energy and more mistakes because we weren’t encouraging each other as much and letting each other know we can fix it and get the next point.”