The Ventura Cougars beat the Buena Bulldogs 3-0 on the afternoon of Sept. 4 on the home volleyball court. Buena’s fans were giving off tremendous amounts of energy to support the team in hopes the Bulldogs would get the W.
However, the game didn’t go as planned for the Bulldogs, as they took a big loss to Ventura. The final score for each match was 25-15, 25-18 and 25-2, giving the Cougars the 3-0 win.
The Bulldog’s loss came at a great cost, not only because it was a rivalry game, but also because they lost to the Cougars the year prior.
Throughout the game Buena was fighting to catch up with Ventura. The Cougars didn’t let off the gas and kept their early lead, which led them to a victory. Senior middle blocker Dylan Classen reflected on the loss, highlighting communication and resilience as key lessons from the game.
“Our communication was good, but when we get down, we sometimes stay down. That’s something we’ve been working on all season—starting strong and keeping our energy high,” Classen said.
With the energy running high at the rivalry game, Classen described the atmosphere as electric.
“Ventura games are always super hype. You’re thinking about it all day at school, and by the time the game starts, your heart rate is up and the energy is unreal,” Classen said.
Classen also praised the support from the stands. “Having a big student section cheering us on makes a huge difference. The loud gym and that pressure actually help us play better,” Classen said.
Even though the team lost, senior outside hitter Ariett Garcia also had the same point of view on the game. Although the loss to Ventura stung, Garcia left the court with pride in her team’s effort.
“We were a little bummed out because we did lose, but at the same time, it was good energy. We weren’t upset at one another because we knew we played good and gave everything we had on the court,” Garcia said.
