On Thursday, September 3, the Johns Creek High School volleyball team traveled to Norcross High School for a doubleheader against Norcross and Lakeside High School. Coming off an emotional and hard-fought victory over rival Milton just two days earlier, the Gladiators entered the night looking to continue building on that momentum. Instead, the first match presented a frustrating challenge as Johns Creek fell to Norcross in three sets, 25-20, 22-25, and 11-15.
The loss was particularly difficult given the level of volleyball the Gladiators had displayed against Milton. Whether the team entered the match with too much confidence following Tuesday night's victory or simply underestimated an opponent ready to rise to the occasion, Johns Creek struggled to find the same energy and cohesion that had defined its performance two nights earlier.
“It is hard to believe that this was the same group of girls that absolutely controlled the court with Milton two days ago,” said Coach Scott. “The girls were very clearly playing as individuals instead of playing as a team.”
The numbers reflected those struggles. Johns Creek finished the match with a .131 team hitting percentage, significantly lower than the standard the Gladiators have established for themselves. The team did maintain a strong 87.9% serve percentage, but struggled to consistently generate the offensive production and team play necessary to close out the match.
Defensively, Hana Catic and Jia Kim led the team with 9 and 8 digs, respectively.
Following the loss, the Gladiators took time to have a serious conversation about their approach to the remainder of the season. Defeating Milton was an important team goal, but accomplishing one of those goals cannot become a reason to lose focus on everything that comes afterward.
The challenge now facing Johns Creek is finding a way to bring the same intensity, competitiveness, and drive displayed against Milton into every match. The team knows that its goals for the season extend well beyond one rivalry victory, and Thursday's loss provided an important reminder that every opponent on the schedule deserves the team's full attention.
With that conversation behind them, the Gladiators returned to the court to face Lakeside with a clear goal: limit errors and play as a team.
The response was exactly what the coaching staff was looking for.
Johns Creek came out with a renewed sense of purpose and controlled the match from the start, defeating Lakeside in two decisive sets, 25-11 and 25-17. The Gladiators played with greater consistency, limited their mistakes, and, most importantly, looked more connected on the court.
Caroline Giles led the offense with 5 kills, followed closely by Mary Grace Crawford and
Emerson Jarboe, who each recorded 4 kills. Jia Kim added 4 aces, helping Johns Creek establish control from the service line.
Defensively, Caroline Giles and Evie Sinotte each recorded 8 digs, while Kim helped direct the offense with 10 assists. Sanjana Mukkamala added another 5 assists in the victory.
The two matches against Norcross and Lakeside ultimately provided Johns Creek with two very different lessons. The loss to Norcross exposed the danger of losing focus and stepping away from the team identity that has helped the Gladiators find success. The victory over Lakeside, however, showed how quickly the team can respond when it recommits to playing together and executing with purpose.
Johns Creek now sits at 12-5 overall on the season. As the Gladiators move forward, the focus will be on finding consistency—not just bringing their best volleyball to the biggest games, but bringing that same level of intensity and commitment every time they step onto the court.
