Schools
Homage to the queen
Overcoming great personal adversity, freshman Dahlia Gonzalez dedicates her plays to Mom.
By Michael Ashcraft --
Every ball she hit was for her mother.
Her mother passed away just months ago.
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"My hardest hardship was my grieving. My loss," Dahlia Gonzalez says. "It makes me want to play better... for my mom."
Mom inspired Dahlia, and the whole Lighthouse Christian Academy team, to victory Tuesday in three sets against Ojai Valley School.
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"Dahlia did pretty well this game. She did have an injured finger, but it didn't seem to hold her back this game," says Coach Jessica Young. "They were all good. She's a natural athlete. Some of her passes looked like collegiate level to me. They were beautiful like in a magazine. She made some last-minute saves on the sideline. She can hit ambidextrously."
Ray Dalio may be the master of the market, but la reina Dahlia is the queen of the court.
She has overcome a lot. The loss of her mother was on top of all the difficulties of Covid and not being around friends and not practicing sports (her preferred is softball).
The Saints dispensed the Spuds (Yes, they call themselves the Spuds. No, potatoes are not a big crop from Ojai) empty-handed.
Playing on grass in the private school's bucolic Ojai property, LCA team members had to adjust. Hits were affected by breezes. Jumps were harder without the hardwood base. Diving would not displace the fall with a slide of smooth wood surface.
But the kids from Santa Monica were up for the task.
Acing Allie Scribner killed them with seven deadly serves in the second set, which LCA won 25-15. (Game one was 25-22, and game three was 28-26)
Clara Czer was batting over great hits and solid serves.
Sarah Montez, the senior and the captain of the team, did her usual hard hits low over the net to befuddle.
The Saints were lucky to have cloudy skies, otherwise the sun might have gotten in their eyes during the outdoor game.
LCA is now 5-1 before its game Wednesday (today) against Summit View.
The Queen of the Court will be digging balls again... for her mother.
And also for her father, whose been a huge support.
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.
Michael Ashcraft teaches journalism at the Lighthouse Christian Academyin Santa Monica.
