Preseason is underway for Acalanes volleyball, and the Dons are getting exactly what preseason is meant to provide: strong competition, valuable experience, and opportunities to grow.
The Dons opened against San Ramon Valley, a top-ranked team, and Acalanes battled from start to finish. The Wolves took the match, but the Dons took the experience and plenty to build on.
On Tuesday night, Acalanes traveled to Monte Vista for another tough preseason matchup. Monte Vista ultimately took the match in three sets, but there were plenty of positives for the Dons to carry forward. Senior outside hitter Ella Chong shouldered a significant share of the offense, while senior middle Sydney Scovic made an impact throughout the night on both sides of the net. Those are the kinds of performances Acalanes can build around as the season progresses.
The first set was competitive through roughly the first 15 points before Monte Vista found another gear. Their No. 21, a standout outside hitter rumored to have committed to a Division I program in Texas, put together an impressive serving run that helped the Mustangs create some separation.
In Set 2, the Dons showed their ability to respond. They battled their way back and eventually cut the deficit to just two points at 18–16. Monte Vista answered with a strong finish, but Acalanes had once again shown its ability to compete and fight its way back into a set.
Then came Set 3 and the Dons turned up the pressure. Acalanes was controlling more of the offense, with Chong, Scovic and Murphy all making important contributions. The Dons took a 22–20 lead late in the set, putting themselves in position to extend the match. Monte Vista, however, showed why it is such a strong preseason opponent, closing the set and the match when the pressure was highest.
The Dons are testing themselves against big schools and talented teams, and they have already shown stretches where they can absolutely compete with them and will. The next step is consistency: turning those strong stretches into complete sets and learning how to finish when the opportunity is there. The record may be 0–2, but there are plenty of signs that this team is finding its rhythm, building confidence, and discovering what it can become.
The real season is just getting started.