Beach volleyball duo Noemi Villanueva and Mei He Li took their game to three sets in a highly competitive match against San Gabriel Academy on Wednesday, April 8.
In the first set, Villanueva and He Li took an early lead against SGA, synergizing exceptionally well. Their ability to work together was strong, and you could tell how well they were communicating. For EF, this set went exceptionally well. He Li went on a streak of four serves in a row, two of which were aces.
Throughout the set, San Gabriel Academy made some excellent offensive moves, but Villanueva was an excellent receiver, diving into the sand to save the ball. Together, they were like a wall, only allowing SGA to score 11 points, securing the first set with a landslide 21-11 win.
After their short timeouts, both EF and SGA returned to the sand court looking determined. That time, San Gabriel Academy returned stronger, with more powerful hits and better communication. At that point, it was easy to tell that the players were getting a bit tired, but both teams remained strong
The game shifted into SGA’s favor midway through, with both duos making amazing saves and serves. In the end, San Gabriel Academy pulled ahead, taking the second set win with a score of 18-21.
Following a brief timeout, the third set was underway. Somehow, it seemed as if both players had regained their energy, fighting for the lead throughout the set. The score was close the whole time, and the most amazing plays happened here. During one of the points, both He Li and Villanueva made diving saves, which ended up scoring them the point.
In the final points of the game, EF pulled ahead and came out on top, taking the victory with a score of 15-11.
In beach volleyball, it’s hard to pick out a star player, since both players are crucial to win. Both Villanueva and He Li played extremely well, both excelling in their own areas.
Villanueva was an excellent receiver, preventing many strong attacks from San Gabriel Academy. He Li’s serves were always on point, acing multiple times in each set.
After the game, both players were happy with how they played, describing the match as “competitive” and “difficult, but in a good way.”
“We did really well today, especially in the first set,” says Villanueva. “The second was rough, but we pulled through in the third. I’m happy with the results.”
People often underestimate the difficulty that comes with outdoor weather conditions. Noemi stated that the wind can “affect the ball a lot, especially since the wind is stronger higher up.” Even the sun makes things more difficult, stating that she “can’t see a thing sometimes.”
“Chemistry matters quite a bit,” said He Li. “It’s important for me to know my teammate well.” When you only have one other person supporting you, it’s clear that good chemistry can help with both communication and trust.
Watching beach volleyball is extremely entertaining, as it is different from traditional court volleyball. The sand restricting movement and the weather conditions affecting the players makes for a great game to watch.
Overall, both teams played exceptionally well. All four players made great plays throughout the game, and their skills were seriously impressive. After watching the game, I can conclude I would not be able to do anything they did, and I played volleyball in my freshman year.
