By Kana Roarty

Tradition doesn’t graduate. This was the motto the girls’ volleyball team carried with them through the regular season, to playoffs and then to states.

After losing 10 seniors from last season’s championship team and only be left with one senior captain Peyton Washington, the young Lady Cavaliers prevailed with outside hitter freshman Jiji Lykins and sophomore setter Alyssa Vitale as well as junior Jayna Francis.

“I think this season was all about proving to other teams in the new Beach district that we would still be a powerhouse,” said Vitale.

With their 25-3 record for this season and crushing almost every team they were matched up against, it was a shock when they lost all three sets to northern Virginia team Tuscarora in the state finals Virginia Commonwealth University on November 18th.

“Losing to Tuscarora definitely hurt,” said Washington. “It’s hard to make it so far and then lose in the finals. However, it’s important to keep in mind everything we’ve accomplished throughout the entire season and focus on the good as opposed to the bad.”

Washington who will play volleyball at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, was the heart of the team this season, leading the players in every practice and game with enthusiasm and hard work.

“It really hurt to lose state finals, not only because we had played amazing this season, but because our goal as a team was to win it for Peyton,” said sophomore Cat Munitz. “We wanted to give her all that we could as a team and knew that she was a big part of winning states last year for the past seniors. It was heartbreaking.”

Although the team didn’t win the state championship, there were some unforgettable moments in the season, especially when they beat the Ocean Lakes and Kellam volleyball teams.

“They’re some of our biggest rivals in the area and we were just able to dominate over them in every play,” said Munitz.

With the almost never-ending wins of the season, the team cemented its family-like relationship with a trip to New Jersey before the season as well as the 11 weeks of crossfit.

“The young team has come so far,” said junior Ruby Romsland. “At the beginning of the season we were still trying to figure out the chemistry we would have as a team, but by the end of the season we were playing like a true team.”

The team is hungry for another state championship and looking to get a ring next season. The Cavs’ looks bright as they lose only Washington off this year’s state runner up team.

“As a senior, I do not have another chance to play with the team, said Washington, “but I am confident in the rest of the players that they will make it back next year!”