On Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, Berkeley High School girls varsity volleyball lost their home opener to Las Lomas High School in an intense, well-fought battle. BHS started strong, winning the first two sets, but ultimately fell to Las Lomas, losing the last three.
BHS began the first set with a 10-2 lead. The momentum remained in their favor, leading to a convincing 25-16 win. The second set was less convincing; the team was able to narrowly win the second set with a 25-23 victory. BHS senior setter, Rubi Silva, provided numerous scoring opportunities to her outside hitters and middle blockers, putting up accurate and precise sets. BHS junior outside hitter, Laurel McGatlin-Golier, scored many points for the Jackets and attributed her team’s early drive to their team chemistry. “When we all want our teammates to succeed, it creates this positive energy that keeps us going,” McGatlin-Golier said.
Despite a strong start, the Jackets’ dominance began to slip as Las Lomas claimed an 11-9 early lead. Kills from junior middle blocker, Sasha Slaughter, as well as McGatlin-Golier helped Berkeley to regain their lead, 16-14. However, for BHS, their efforts weren’t sufficient and the Jackets ultimately fell to Las Lomas 21-25 in the third set.
The fourth and fifth sets were similar stories. While both were intensely fought battles, BHS lost to Las Lomas 15-20 in the fourth and 11-15 in the fifth, handing the victory to the visitors. After the game, head coach Kim Rock expressed her goals for the rest of the season.
“Unforced errors need to be left behind and never seen again. However, our play will definitely get better as the season progresses,” Rock said.
BHS senior outside hitter and captain Liliana Sanger also shared her desires for the team. “We need to control the controllables, and we all just need to be more aggressive because we all want to win,” she said. Despite an upsetting start to the beginning of their season, the Jackets are hopeful for success going forward. The team aspires to win the West Alameda County Conference league championship for a second year in a row, adding to their titles.