Lady Cowboys volleyball team wins district championship over Cypress Bay

By PEYTON FOX 

The volleyball district championship returned to CCHS after the Lady Cowboys bested the Cypress Bay Lightning on October 21 in four sets. The varsity team won 3-1 at Cypress Bay to bring the trophy home. 

“The game last night was so exciting to play, especially against such a tough opponent and with the stakes so high,” senior and libero Yasmine Tesone said. “Winning the game was such a huge success for the program because it really shows how we were able to come together to bring the district champ title back to Cooper City. 

This is the fifth district championship for the varsity volleyball team since 2015, led by Coach Jill Smitherman. 

“We were down one of our starters from the semi-final game so it was a great, inspirational victory,” Smitherman said, alluding to the injury junior and setter Juliana Malena attained during the October 19 match against Miami’s Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School.  

“The entire starting lineup stepped up to the plate knowing we were down a player,” Smitherman said. 

The Lady Cowboys lost the first set but rallied to win the next three sets in what Principal Vera Perkovic called a “nail biter” of a game at 27 -25. 

Junior and right side hitter Shira Aroshas felt the win was “accomplishing and absolutely well-deserved.”

“Everyone played their best,” she said. “It was amazing to have so much support from our parents and our bench.”

The win was redemptive as the Lady Cowboys previously lost to Cypress Bay in a tournament match earlier in the season. 

“It was a way to put the icing on the cake,” Smitherman said. “It was extremely emotional, extremely invigorating and extremely satisfying.”

While the girls wait to see who they take on next, the Regional Championships will be hosted by CCHS on October 27 at 6 p.m. in the main gym. 

Shira Aroshas is a photographer for The Lariat.