In the year 1386, Geoffrey Chaucer penned the phrase, “All good things must come to an end” in his tragic poem “Troilus and Criseyde.” Six centuries have passed, yet his powerful statement still rings true today, especially for the Palo Alto High School girls volleyball team. The Vikes recently fell to competitor Los Altos High School thus ending their tremendous winning streak in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL).

“The toughest challenge this season was keeping our record, because we were undefeated before we played Los Altos, and we wanted to maintain that for the rest of the season,” said defensive specialist Susanna Limb. “Unfortunately, we did not play as well as we could and suffered a defeat to Los Altos.”

The toughest challenge this season was keeping our record, because we were undefeated before we played Los Altos, and we wanted to maintain that for the rest of the season.

Susanna Limb

Junior

The Oct. 13 game against Los Altos resulted in a devastating 3-1 loss for Paly. The Eagles won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-22. However, undaunted and unrelenting, the Vikings refused to give up, ending the third set with a 25-17 Viking win.

However, their valiant efforts were ultimately overcome by a 25-18 loss in the last set of the game.

“We had great individual performances, but as a team we did not communicate well,” Limb said.

Dynamized by the loss, the Vikings continued to improve upon their unity and served up an incredible 3-0 win against crosstown rival Henry M. Gunn High School on Friday, Oct. 14. With scores of 26-24, 28-26 and 26-24, the team narrowly won each set.

Limb credits their victory to their consistent playing and improved team cohesion, and hints that the Lady Vikes still have room for improvement.

“I think we played well,” Limb said. “However, we did not start off strong for all three games. The toughest part was the crowd. We have never played with that many people yelling and I think it overwhelmed us in the beginning.”

We are on track to becoming first in our league.

Susanna Limb

Junior

After playing Lynbrook High School and Monta Vista High School on Oct. 25 and 27, respectively, the team hopes to bring their talents to the Central Coast Section (CCS), and hopefully to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

“Overall, this season has been more successful than past ones,” Limb said. “We are on track to becoming first in our league.”