In their two regular-season matchups, Montwood and Pebble Hills went the distance. Both teams won a match at home and this last one would break the tie, and along with that, the Spartans would gain their first-ever playoff spot in school history. The Spartans, unfortunately, did not make this happen as they lost against the Rams in three sets Friday afternoon, Nov. 1 at Americas.

“I feel like in the overall season we overcame a lot of the obstacles that we had gone through,” senior Nicole Rodriguez said. “It was a really long season, it was tough, but through it all, we found the will to win and although we didn’t win today we played our hearts out and left our all on the court.”

The Spartans opened up the game with a sluggish start, losing the first set 25-16, it continued throughout most of the second set of the match but as the set carried on, the Spartans began to finally find their groove and claw back into the game.

Despite getting back into it on offensively, the defense of the Spartans just could not stop the Montwood offensive firepower as they took the second set as well, 25-21.

There was a noticeable, yet welcoming change to this season as the team improved this year.

“I feel like we have in general just became stronger, [and] we’ve become closer they’re like my family we [haven’t] changed much, but we also want to win more,” Rodriguez said.

After three sets, the Spartans were defeated by the Rams with a score of 25-17, as Montwood snatches the chance of making the playoffs for the first time from Pebble Hills and ends their season.