There’s something magical about hosting a tournament on the home court. The cheers seem louder, the floor feels bouncier, and every corner of the gym brings a touch of familiarity in an otherwise hyper-stressful situation. This year’s SAISA girls’ volleyball tournament was nothing short of epic, and is a memory that will be written into my mind forever (my grandchildren will hear about this) With teams flying in from all over South Asia, we knew the competition would be tough. But playing in front of our home crowd gave us that extra spark,  a secret weapon. We were ready for redemption, especially after coming 3rd last year, when we knew we could have done so much better. While the outcome this year wasn’t exactly what we wanted, it was still quite an experience. It was a full circle moment, my first year as captain, but last year on the team as a senior, I couldn’t have asked for better teammates and coaches.

Day 1:

The tournament buzz was already in the air the second I stepped into school (more like hours before I could fall asleep the night before) Thankfully this time I was not late for the opening ceremony (like during football last year, if you want to read that thrilling experience click here: 🦎🥅 Grass Burns, Goals and (not) Gold 🥅🦎). I made sure to arrive EXTRA early this time (an hour before the opening ceremony, my sleep time was cut short, I was that dedicated) and this time I arrived early enough that I was able to greet and welcome LAS (Lahore American School) and AISD (American International School Dhaka), as well as give them a quick tour around the school —where I pointed out where they’d be playing, eating, and probably napping between matches. It was great to see some of my SAISA friends again and catch up on everything in person. The opening ceremony was amazing, as usual. Stephie and I (being captains) had the honor of lighting up the oil lamp with the captains of other teams – a moment that was equal parts cultural pride and nerve-wracking precision. (Lighting a wick while pretending to be graceful isn’t as easy as it looks, especially whilst trying not to burn down the whole building while the whole school is watching) This moment was actually very special for me, after seeing so many people lighting the oil lamp throughout my childhood, this is the first time I have done it myself. We repeated the SAISA oath, and by the end of the ceremony, I was more than ready to start playing volleyball. Everything up to this day, weeks of training, (very) early mornings, and practice games, all led up to this tournament. As a senior it was my last time playing volleyball representing OSC, my last chance to win gold at a SAISA tournament (evidently if you read the title that didn’t happen, but let’s just forget about that for now, keep it in suspense).

Match #1: OSC vs. LAS
This was the big one—the whole school came out to watch. Playing in front of a loud, cheering crowd was both exhilarating and terrifying. But we leaned into the energy and absolutely dominated it in the first set, winning 25-12 with 11 kills and 5 aces. The second set was a bit tighter. We let LAS stay neck-and-neck for the first half, but after some quick adjustments (aka: breathing, talking to each other, and deciding we actually wanted to win), we stepped it up. With more aggressive plays at the net, we pulled away and closed out the set 25-15. The first win was in the books, and we were feeling good, and we made sure that all the other teams watching should be terrified of us.

Match #2: OSC vs. AISC
With adrenaline still running high from our opening win, we faced AISC (American International School Chennai) in our second match of the day. And once again, we delivered. The first set started a little shaky, but with some well-timed kills, we regained momentum and took the set 25-13. The second set was a real test of endurance. AISC put up solid rallies, and we had to keep our cool to stay ahead. This wasn’t one of those matches where we dominated with stats—it was more about keeping the energy up and trusting each other. Everyone on the team got a chance to step on the court, which made the win even better. We closed the day with a 2-0 victory, riding high on a wave of teamwork and positivity.

With two wins already secured on day 1, we wrapped up the day on a high note—and not just from volleyball. That evening, we hosted a super fun social with all the teams packed into the chill room. We set up a karaoke screen, handed out microphones, and took turns belting out Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and other nostalgic hits. And, of course, no social would be complete without a  Just Dance session. Let’s just say, that by the end of the night, it was very clear why we all play volleyball instead of pursuing singing careers.

 

Day 2: 

As Day 2 dawned, the fatigue and muscle aches began to settle in—our voices were getting a little hoarse from all the cheering (or just my terrible singing last night). Game faces on, we were ready to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead, starting with a match against one of the toughest competitors: Lincoln School, last year’s runners-up.

Match #3: OSC vs. LS

The energy in the gym was electric that morning, with a crowd gathered to support us against the Lincoln Snow Leopards. I could feel the excitement radiating from the stands, and I truly appreciated everyone who came out to cheer us on. We opened the first set with strength, confidence, and control, showcasing impressive rallies that reflected the skill and intensity of both teams. However, as the game progressed, a few miscommunications disrupted our momentum, and we began to lose steam. Despite this setback, we kept trying. We returned serves and executed strong volleys, making Lincoln work hard for every point. Although we kept it competitive, we couldn’t fully rebound to our initial level of play, ultimately falling 12-25 in the first set. In the second set, we regrouped with a solid plan. The rallies continued back and forth, and we fought hard. We had some excellent passing but, they used the gaps in our defense, and despite our best efforts, we struggled to regain our points. The second set concluded with another 12-25 loss.

Although the scores didn’t reflect the incredible effort and skill we displayed, I was proud to lead the team as captain, contributing three kills and a dig to the match. We all worked hard, and even though the game didn’t go the way we wanted, we walked away with our heads held high, ready for whatever came next. Every member made positive contributions, and that’s what truly counts. But on the bright side, even though we lost, this still put us in 2nd place in our pool of 5, so not all hope was lost yet.

Match #4: OSC vs. KAS

After a well-deserved break and some much-needed food, we faced off against KAS (Karachi American School) for our second match of the day. We definitely did not play our best this game, we started a bit slow, making some slightly unexpected (and embarrassing) mistakes, but at least we made our audience chuckle. Instead of letting those mistakes dampen our spirits, we shared a few laughs and quickly refocused our energy. Once we got a hold of it, our bumps, sets, and spikes worked effortlessly. The hard work and determination paid off as we beat KAS, taking both sets with scores of 25-17 and 25-14.

Day 3:

By the third day, I think the muscle pain really just becomes a background pain, which is helpful in a way because the third day is always the most exhausting, especially if you have to play quarters, semis, and then finals on top of all that.

Quarterfinals: OSC vs. AISD

Day 3 began with a sense of urgency in the air. Every team knew what was at stake—lose, and it’s all over. No shot at gold. The pressure was on, and it was time to showcase what we had been preparing for all season.

Semifinals: OSC vs. ASB

This game was an absolute masterpiece. Cinematic. Poetic. Insert any positive adjective here, this game will be just that. It should win an OSCAR or Grammy or both because this game was the highlight of most probably my whole volleyball career.

This match against ASB, the undefeated powerhouse of the tournament, was hands-down one of the best games of the season. From the first serve to the nail-biting final set, it was the kind of volleyball that made the audience sit on the edge of their seats while screaming their lungs out.

We started strong, armed with a solid game plan and the kind of focus that only comes with knowing you’re up against the best. Stephie worked her magic with assists, setting up hitters like me, Clara, and Lucia for kills that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Maelle decided to throw in a couple of blocks that shut down their tricky plays, leaving the fans roaring. I could feel the floor shaking—not from the jumps but from the energy in the gym.

But ASB wasn’t about to hand us the win. In a plot twist that had the crowd gasping, they rallied back from 19-22 to steal the first set 25-22. A killer serves streak and a few sneaky aces later, they’d flipped the script. We were beaten, sure, but broken? Absolutely not. Never ever would I back down and let another semifinal (like last year) slip through my fingers.

Determined to come back better than before, we hit the court with even more determination in the second set. Zoe and I decided it was time to show off a little, each delivering six-serve streaks. Between us, we racked up five aces—Zoe with three and me with two—because why not sprinkle in a bit of excitement for our home crowd? It was a tough win but we pulled ourselves together and managed a magical 25-18 win.

And then came the third set—every volleyball player’s dream and nightmare rolled into one. It was neck and neck, with intense rallies, diving saves, and plenty of moments that made coaches (and the home crowd) hold their breath. This set was much, much closer than I would have liked it to be, and we made our parents in the stands have mini heart attacks. But hey, this game was an amazing watch, and at least we kept our audience entertained until the very end, and we pulled off our best win of the tournament yet.

ASB put up an incredible fight, but nothing beats the feeling of taking down the undefeated team of the tournament. They were fierce competitors and honestly, one of our favorite teams to play against, and I couldn’t have asked for a better team to play the most entertaining match of the tournament with. This game was everything we’d worked for—skill, heart, and teamwork. And was amazing to be a part of it.

Championship Match: OSC vs. Lincoln School

After a two-hour delay that felt like an eternity, we were itching to get back on the court for our last ever game together. The gym was packed, and the energy was electric as we squared off against Lincoln School in the championship game. We were ready for revenge after our pool game on the second day, determined to show them that we hadn’t shown our best yet. We started the first set with a bang—Lucia, Stephie, and I teamed up for a bump-set-spike that had the crowd on their feet. I followed it up with a block (that I’m not going to lie, felt amazing) and an attack that fired up our bench.

Lincoln, however, didn’t come to play nice. Their powerful serves and relentless defense kept us working overtime. We dug deep—literally—with plenty of defensive saves, but finishing these plays proved our weak spot. The set ended in a tough 18-25 loss, leaving us hungry to turn things around.

In the second set, we were more than ready. Doubling our hits and attacks, we kept Lincoln on their toes. The crowd was living for the back-and-forth intensity as both teams stayed neck-and-neck. Sadly, Lincoln’s consistency won out, and we dropped the set 22-25 in a heartbreaker.

We weren’t about to give up without a fight, though. The third set opened with Zoe absolutely on fire, serving up three straight aces like it was totally normal. Not to be outdone, I added two more, and for a moment, it felt like we had Lincoln right where we wanted them. But Lincoln was just too steady, minimizing their mistakes and making us work for every single point.

In the end, Lincoln won the game, leaving us with a bittersweet mix of pride and frustration. We gave it everything we had and pushed one of the best teams of the tournament to their limits. It wasn’t the ending we dreamed of, but it was a game we’ll never forget—and a reminder of how much we’ve grown together as a team. Sometimes, there is just a better team and there is nothing we can do about it but try our hardest and win gracefully with our heads held high.

After days of digs, spikes, and nail-biting sets, we walked away with a silver medal. Second place may not shine as bright as gold, but it still sparkles. And sometimes, the journey is just as rewarding as the trophy—plus, silver gives me a reason to train even harder and get another gold somewhere else in the future.

Thank you to everyone who made my volleyball journey such a special one. First of all, my parents were a huge part of this journey, thank you for always being there for me and providing me with the support and care I always needed. To Milana, our youngest player for always making the team laugh with her (quite special) sense of humor and a huge sense of heart, I believe that you can do all and more to step up as our team setter next year. To Devi, my middle hitter, it has been amazing and truly inspiring to see you grow since the beginning of the season, and now you can hit the ball straight down (they better watch out for you!), keep going and I know you will go far someday. To Lucia, your down-line hits are truly amazing and your consistency is flawless, and you have always been a team player. To Clara, my amazing opposite hitter, everyone should be scared of you and your absolute powerhouse serves and hits that fly past a million miles an hour (but I know at heart you are the sweetest girl I’ve ever met, thank you for sharing your Pina Colada hydration packets :). To Imaan, you stepped up and trained your hardest to become our team libero, you truly are one of the funniest people I have met and your laughter is infectious, your determination to get any ball whether it is on the other side of the court, or 500 meters away is something that I will always admire, because you deserve it all. To Charlotte, my sister, it has been emotional in the best way possible to play by your side in a team sport for the first time and the last time before I leave for university, your enthusiasm and team spirit always lifted our team higher and I will miss our double blocks (I will however NOT miss you stealing my hit when I so clearly called mine at the front of the net). And of course, to my fellow seniors on the team. This was a bittersweet experience for all of us but I am so glad you were the ones I could cry and laugh (and cry again) with. To Maelle, the sweetest soul I have ever met but can hit and block like an absolute machine on the court, my fellow middle hitter, you have been an amazing player to play alongside. To Zoe, I love you not only for your absolutely terrifying cross-court hits but for your brutal honesty and knack of always saying the right thing to get us out of a slump. Even with your (ahem) slightly unusual health issues (your asthma inhalers always watching from the sidelines), you always found a way to make it to practice and somehow still be contributing to the team. I will miss playing alongside someone like you, and I think that every single team needs its own “Zoe”, and I’m just lucky to have found mine <3. And last but definitely not least, to Stephie, your determination and confidence not only in yourself but in the team has propelled our team forward in ways no one can imagine. Your patience with us ( I know it’s hard especially since our team loves to make you run halfway across the court to get our receives) has been our grounding anchor. Yet, your enthusiasm and team spirit have also been our guiding star, pushing us to always do our best and reach for the highest heights, because we know you would always be there to catch us if we fell. To Coach Meyers, thank you for stepping in so comfortably into our volleyball family, you are the glue that held us together as a team. No matter what, you were always there for the team, whether it be recording stats or screaming from the sidelines, your support has been essential to our team. While our team has only known you for a few months this season, it feels like you have been here our whole journey, and we have you to thank for making it so enjoyable. And of course, to Ms. Kelly,  I don’t think I’ve ever quite met a coach like you. It has been quite a journey, you have taught me and so many others since I was in Kindergarten, and (in addition to never aging) you have always been such an encouraging, passionate, but motherly figure in my sports life. Your humor and words always brighten up whatever stressful day we are having (which is a lot, considering we are DP2 students) and this will always have a place in my heart. I don’t think words can describe the appreciation I have for you and all that you have done for our team, I think that every child or person should deserve a coach like you at least once in their life, and I am immensely grateful that I have grown up with you as a role model.

I don’t think many people can say this many things about every person on their team, but it was easy for me because there is too much to say about them but not enough words to describe the love I have for this amazing group of people. To all of you, I am and will forever be grateful for having the chance to not only play alongside you but to be able to say that I am proud of being captain of this team, I could not have asked for a better team to spend my last SAISA volleyball with.

I adore this team with all my heart, and the love I have for my teammates, my coaches, and volleyball, will always shine brighter than any gold medal ever will. SAISA Volleyball 2024 is a precious memory, and  I will always keep it locked away in the trophy case of my heart.