Schools
Straight Outta Compton
Eden Garcia learned yesterday how to jump-serve. Today she was delivering with deadly precision.
By Michael Ashcraft --
Wait, wut?
Eden Garcia, outside hitter on Saints Volleyball, learned the tricky acrobacy of a volleyball jump-serve just yesterday?
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Today against Wildwood, freshman was showing Compton killer instinct with sinking serves.
Lighthouse Christian Academy of Santa Monica lost in four hard-fought matches against the Wolves: 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 16-25. It was a pre-season, non-league match.
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"The girls had great attitudes. They passed really well. They looked really good," said Coach Jessica Young. They just have a hard time finishing the play and getting a kill. We need to work with the freshmen at the net being a little more aware of how to block. Overall, I'm proud of them. They did almost as good as they could do."
Plenty to please. Captain Shayla Papik was slapping balls like ping pong. She was throwing herself everywhere to make saves.
Having mastered her timing, sophomore Jillian Jenkins honed her hitting. Sophomore Lucy Young pinpointed serves and hits to great effect.
Sophomore Riley Gonzalez was breaking bones by launching herself over the floor to make desperate saves.
"I have a couple new bruises," Riley said. "But it's OK."
And then there was new girl Eden, who wore fire on her feet and played with fire in her hands. She was making hits with precision from the outside.
"She's playing amazing," said coach. "She is able to continuously do well."
And in practice yesterday, she asked her friend Riley about jump-serves. "How do you do that?"
"She's a really quick learner," Riley said. "It's really impressive. I'm really proud of her."
When the Saints were trailing, Coach told Eden to stop the risky jump-serve and do a regular serve.
"I was like, Eden, don't jump serve this time, and she misses it," said Coach. "So she's jump-serving. Just jump-serve then."
In an interview about her break-out game, Eden got asked where she came from? Out of nowhere, a new hitter emerges and fills ranks with the team. (Eden was in Lighthouse Middle School, but the reporter was unaware of her volleyball prowess.) Where did you come from?
"I come from COMPTON," she said.
"I'm getting better at not getting nervous."
Related content: Jill-house rock.
About this writer: Michael Ashcraft teaches journalism and writing at the Lighthouse Christian Academy.
