Shalhevet players and coach felt they gave the game their all, but that ultimately the opposing team deserved to win. 

The Firehawk girls’ volleyball team lost to Santa Rosa Academy in the second round of CIF’s Division 9  playoffs last Thursday, Oct. 19, three sets to two. Santa Rosa Academy is located in Wildomar, Calif., near Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. The school has 1,500 students in grades K-12.

The game was an even match until the final set. Santa Rosa won the first set 25-16, Shalhevet won the second 25-23, Santa Rosa won the third 25-23, and Shalhevet won the fourth 25-21.

Santa Rosawon the fifth and final set 15-7. 

“We gave it our all, it just came down to fighting for as long as we could,” said senior and team captain Atara Cohen. “We made it to the fifth set, which is the tie breaker, so our win kind of slipped away in the end. I think there were some plays where we could have been more attentive and focused in the game, but overall I think we did a great job.”

The team’s new coach saw it the same way.

“Everyone was playing their best..,” said Coach Natalie Livermore, who was completing her first season with the team. “I think we had a few moments of miscommunication and not being as aggressive as we could, but overall I think everyone put in 100%.”

The game started at 6:15 p.m. and was played at home in the Shalhevet gym. The Choirhawks opened the game with the national anthems of the U.S. and Israel.  

Both Shalhevet and Santa Rosa fans cheered on the players, and a few Firehawk alumni were there as well – including two of last year’s girls volleyball stars, Noa Talasazan and Hannah Nili, both class of ‘23.

Talent showed throughout the game. Coach Livermore remembered a play by senior Eliana Wainberg in the third set. 

“My favorite moment of the game was definitely Eliana’s one-handed save,” said Coach Livermore.  

Atara’s was at the end of the second set.

“We lost the first set, so winning the second set felt really great,” Atara said. “The whole crowd was screaming for us. We were screaming and jumping – we just felt really unified.” 

Eliana herself, a starting player, focused on the game’s successes.

“Our teamwork was crazy,” said Eliana. “We have never wanted a win like this before, and we all wanted to win this so, so much, and even though we didn’t win, wanting to win helped us play better. “ 

This game differed from past games of this season – all of which Shalhevet had won – because Santa Rosa was a better team, players said.

“We don’t really have much competition so this season has been a little easier,” said Atara. “We haven’t really seen teams like this, so we were just a little shocked at the performance of these players.”   

Coach Livermore, who was the volleyball coach at YULA Girls high school last year, replaced former coach Jelly Castellanos at Shalhevet. 

“This season has been amazing,” said Coach Livermore. “We dominated the league and they had an outstanding performance in the first round of the playoffs.”