September 21, 2026

Girls Volleyball Power Surge

Girls Volleyball Power Surge

The Memorial High Mavericks’ girls volleyball team stormed the gym last Thursday with the force of a category-5 margarita at the concession stand. Captain Sofia Morales delivered spikes so fierce they rattled the rafters–and possibly Coach Davis’s coffee cup. Libero Ava Chen danced across the court like a caffeinated hummingbird, saving balls that seemed destined for the bleachers and turning near-misses into highlight-reel miracles.

Between sets, junior middle blocker Riley Thompson held a makeshift “Serve & Support” clinic at midcourt, demonstrating “Zen spikes”–a blend of yoga breathwork and power-hitting. Freshman Emily Nguyen, clearly inspired, attempted her own signature move: the “Slice ‘n’ Dice,” slicing the ball at a diagonal angle so sharp it nearly clipped the visiting coach’s fringe. The rival team responded with polite applause and one very nervous timeout.

The real showstopper arrived in the fourth set when libero Chen executed a diving save mid-celebration, tumbling into the mascot costume prop left by the pep squad. Emerging triumphant–hair askew and grin intact–she rallied her teammates for a final push. With Morales’s last thunderous kill, the Mavericks claimed victory 25–18. As the crowd erupted, bleachers quaked under Maverick chants of “Go Girls, Go!” proving once again that female athletes at Memorial High aren’t just part of the program–they write the playbook.

Annabelle Bransford

Hi, I’m Annabelle Bransford, Memorial High School’s unofficial satirist-in-residence and proud founder of The Daily Detention—a publication so edgy it’s been banned twice and resurrected three times, like a sassy phoenix with a flair for detention slips. I write satire because someone has to hold the line between cafeteria chaos and gym class tyranny. Whether I’m exposing the secret emotional feud between our Algebra teacher and Euclid, or investigating why the pep rally feels like an ancient ritual sacrifice, I try to speak truth to hallway power. Sure, I’ve been called “disruptive,” but mostly by people who wear lanyards unironically. My work has been read by at least two janitors, my entire AP English class, and one substitute teacher who thought it was a cry for help. I consider that range. When I’m not sharpening my wit, I’m dodging group projects, winning banned book club trivia, or mentoring the school's AI Isn’t Funny Club (membership: just me and 17 bots I’ve emotionally manipulated). I’m also a National Merit Semi-Finalist, certified eye-roller at Student Government meetings, and the only girl in school who’s been accused of “weaponizing irony.” My goals? Keep writing, keep laughing, and one day publish a satirical exposé called Yearbook Superlatives and Other Lies. If you want something sugarcoated, try the bake sale. If you want the truth with a punchline, I’m your girl. I've landed a sweet job at Bohiney Magazine, so don't bother me. EMAIL: annabelle@bohiney.com

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