(Photo by Jackson Thayer/OPHS Flicks)

After a lot of hard work, the Oak Park High School girls varsity volleyball team has made two back-to-back CIF wins. 

“All the hard work we’ve been putting in really showed,” sophomore outside hitter Cherish Anthonio said. “I think the biggest difference was our energy and trust in each other.” 

At the start of the first game against Sultana, Oak Park girls varsity volleyball lost the first set out of five. 

“There was a set that we let ourselves get down 11-18,” sophomore setter Olivia Karatsonyi said. “When I went in I served six straight balls and aced two of them. That kept a good amount of momentum on the court, enough for the whole team.”

After losing multiple points, they made a comeback. 

“I think that going into CIF as a team we were all a bit nervous,” Karatsonyi said. “But after losing the first set, we knew that we had to come back even stronger, and we won the next three sets, which made it very special for us and a good start to CIF.”

The first game allowed for the volleyball team to learn a lot, and become a more unified team. 

“We were getting up every single ball imaginable, diving, covering, and just refusing to let anything drop,” senior captain Athena Trewyn said. “After each rally we all just looked at each other and knew that this is our game, and we’re not backing down.” 

After momentum shifted, towards the start of the second set the game flowed in Oak Park’s favor. 

“There was definitely a point where the momentum shifted,” Anthonio said.  “I’d say in the second match, after we kept getting many kills and blocks and the other team started to lose their energy.  You could just feel everyone’s confidence rise and that’s when I knew we were going to win.”

The volleyball team wanted to carry the energy into their second CIF game. 

“Our mindset was to stay focused, stay humble and keep the same intensity,” Anthonio said. “We knew that each game would get tougher but we were confident in our preparation and each other.” 

The OPHS volleyball team worked as a team to win each game. 

“We needed to work as a team and like a unit because if we play as individuals our team won’t connect and we won’t accomplish the job of winning,” Karatsonyi said. 

A large reason that the  volleyball team has made it this far in CIF is thanks to their new head coach Josh Giron. 

“I think our coach Josh really stepped up and coached us really well,” Karatsonyi said. “All of us were a little nervous and he called us down and reassured us after every point. Which helped us all shake off points that we lost.” 

Coach Giron repeatedly encouraged the volleyball team in many ways. 

“Ever since the beginning of the season, coach Josh made it a point about how strong our team is and how far we can go with our talent,” Karatsonyi said. “He has named this 2025 season as ‘ring’ season because he knows that we can win championships and get a ring.” 

This season has allowed for the volleyball team to all start working together. 

“We’ve built so much chemistry, and when we play with confidence and energy, we can compete with anyone,” Anthonio said.

The OPHS girls volleyball team is excited to see where the rest of this season takes them. 

“I honestly think we can go all the way,” Trewyn said. “What makes me confident is how connected we are not just as teammates but as a family.  We’ve been through ups and downs together, but every single person brings something special to this team. That’s what makes us dangerous and why I believe we can keep making history and leave a title for the school and the program.”