As Panthers Struggle, Junior Keeps Battling

As she concludes her third season playing varsity volleyball for Clara Barton High School, Taliah Moore refuses to accept defeat. The Panther's junior never takes plays off and is a vocal leader, imploring her teammates to hustle for every ball hit their way. 

Despite Moore's effort and intensity,  Moore and the Panthers walked off the court losers for the eighth time this season on Monday, dropping their match against the Warriors of Benjamin Banneker Academy 2-0  (25-14, 25-18).

"There's a lot of new players on the team this year so we have been learning and it's hard to win games," said Moore after the loss to the Warriors.

The Panthers (1-8) hung tough despite falling to the Warriors but were unable to string points together late in both games against the top team in the division.

Moore has found a way to shine despite being mired in her third consecutive losing season while at Barton. She leads the Brooklyn B3 Division in aces and is a close second for the lead in service points.  The talented junior has played volleyball since junior high school and this summer competed in the Big Apple Games. 

"I felt like it helped me," Moore said of her experience this summer. "I was playing against people high up who played beach volleyball and played the sport in college so it was a good experience."

Moore, who also plays on the Panthers basketball and softball teams, hopes that her experience and great play can propel her to the next level.  Although she admits losing is frustrating, she knows that her skill set is a perfect match for Division I collegiate volleyball. 

Moore, who currently holds an 86 average at Barton, aspires to attend college and play volleyball at Penn State. However, before she gets to the next level, she would like to see her current team turn things around. 

The Bartonite and East Flatbush native likes the players on the school's young roster but believes everyone has to become more well-rounded players for the team to be successful. 

Moore attempts to lift the team on the court during games and in practice sessions. "I am always bringing in new drills to the team," the junior said. "I want us to get better." 

With one match left to play, the best the Panthers can do is match last year's two-victory season, but that hasn't dampened Moore's will to win.

"I am encouraging the girls to go out in the last game and play hard and that's it," said Moore.

The junior athlete plans to help in the schools recruiting effort next year and will encourage some of her younger teammates to join her play in the Big Apple Classic next summer. She said she thinks that will help her teammates become the more well-rounded players she aspires to play alongside.

Clara Barton will close out their season on Nov. 1 as they battle the Brooklyn School for Global Studies (4-3) and try to earn their second win of the season.  Win or lose, the Panthers are sure of one thing: Moore will give her all.