After the Ma’ayanot JV Rapids volleyball team claimed a victory at SAR. preserving their perfect season last week, the varsity team proved themselves equal to the task.

The 3-0 Rapids claimed their fourth consecutive victory in four sets over the Sting to protect their own perfect season and cement their perch atop the Western Conference.

The Rapids jumped out to a fast start, winning the first set 21-17 and setting the tone quickly.

The Sting responded, edging out the Rapids in a hard-earned second set victory to knot the score.

Several sparkling defensive plays by setter Tamar Pasternak (junior) and her teammates quickly erased the Sting’s momentum as a shorthanded Rapids squad rallied in a rousing display of grit and fortitude. The defensive discipline displayed by captain Shoshi Blech (senior), Tamar Waltuch (junior) and company, coupled with the precise, disciplined and dynamic attacking combo of junior setter and middle blocker Gila Shepetofsky and Meital Fuksbrumer proved too much for the Sting to withstand as the Rapids rallied to take set three in declarative fashion, 21-11.

The momentum carried over into the decisive fourth set where the story of the night quickly became the superlative serving of senior Lilly Fuchs.

Fuchs stepped to the service line with a slim 2-1 lead and succeeded to win the next 19 service points; 13 of them aces to take the set in startling fashion, 21-1.

Fuchs’ historic serving night offset what was a strong performance from a team that relies heavily on its depth. Rachel Landesman (junior), Keren Raskin (junior) and Michal Meisels (junior) all contributed significantly off the bench and helped fill the void by injured starter Eden Schechter (senior).

By Coach Chayim Tauber