Chivalry and old school values help Lighthouse in volleyball win

By Michael Ashcraft --

Lighthouse Christian Academy unrelentingly buried volleyball rivals Hillcrest, which fought fiercely for life in the third and final set, battling each rally up to a minute. The final 30-28 meant Hillcrest returned home without consolation.

With solid hits, serves and life-saving digs, Sarah Montez led the mostly freshman team in the 3-set sweep.

But there's something funny about her leadership. The 5'3" senior only took to volleyball only out of a sense of obligation.

"I have to make it my duty to serve my school and team because they are my family at the end of day," Sarah says.

DUTY?

After modernism, postmodernism and existentialism staged a coup on our intellectual framework, the antiquated concept of duty has fallen into almost complete disuse. Ridiculed and deconstructed by philosophers, literary titans and intelligentsia, the concept of duty is a quaint castoff gone the way of knights and lances from the times of chivalry.

Duty.

Sarah committed to volleyball out of duty to her school. She practiced assiduously, joined a summer beach volleyball program and hit the gym.

All that commitment paid off Wednesday. She whacked the ball, rallied her players, guided the team to a hard-scrabble superiority.

"I think we all have responsibilities on the team," Sarah says. "It's my job as a team captain to be encouraging and always there for my team."

So values first, victory second.

The team is following the lead.

Freshman Allie Scribner put to use a summer of intense workout by getting the mix of every play. As setter, Allie was key to foiling Hillcrest's comeback bid.

Of note, Freshmen Frida Macias and Dahlia Gonzalez grew in confidence with strong serves and bumps. Sophomore Roxy Photenhauer continued to fire her photon-canon serves and hits. Call her Photen-power, now.

The Lighthouse Saints are now 2-1 in their 2021 season.

Also read other LCA games:
Vs. SFVA Oct. 12.Vs. Westmark School Oct. 7
Vs Summit View Sept. 29
Vs. Ojai Valley School Sept. 28.
Vs. SCVi Sept. 23.
Vs. Newbury Park Adventist Academy Sept. 9
Vs. Hillcrest Christian Sept. 15.
Vs. Gorman Learning Center Sept 16.