Senior Maile Krauss has been a setter on the varsity volleyball team since she was a freshman, but had yet to win a game against Palo Alto.

That is, until the Titans downed the Vikings in four sets (17-25, 25-13, 25-12, 25-18) on Oct. 25, clinching a spot in CCS.

Having lost a game to Paly earlier this season, the team went into this match seeking revenge. “I feel relieved,” Krauss said. “It’s just a nice feeling to finally beat our rivals at home.”

Krauss’s mother, Daynee, understands how important it is for Krauss to beat Paly. “[Maile’s] been very nervous about it,” she said. “She really wants to win this one because it’s her senior year and it’s her last chance.”

After dropping the first set, the Titans took three sets in a row. “Once we turned up our focus a bit, we were able to take control of the game,” Head coach Matt Hoffman said.

“The first game we struggled a lot with passing and ball control,” Krauss said. “In our second game, our key players stepped up in the back row and allowed me to run the offense.”

Krauss led the Titans with 39 assists and three kills. “She’s just been a consistent leader,” Hoffman said. “She has played pretty consistently lately and she loves the team.”

Other key players included junior outside hitter Samantha Rohman, who had 12 kills, and senior outside hitter Ashley Gardiner, who had eight kills and six aces.

This match was a far cry from a loss to Paly earlier this season—partly due to a difference in venue, according to senior opposite Alex Graves. “We had a lot of energy,” Graves said. “A lot of it was due to our fans.”

Every time the Titans scored, the Sixth Man Club followed with drum beats and cheers such as the “sprinkler dance” or “washing machine.”

Besides not having home court advantage, Paly also lost senior team captain Rebecca Hagemann due to injury. “After the first set, we just got out of system and weren’t able to execute,” Paly junior Erica Gage said.

After the Paly match, the Titans went on to win three games in a row, capturing second place in leagues. Tomorrow, the Titans enter CCS.

“Every game right now is big,” Hoffman said. “We’ve got to play our hardest and hopefully win every match.”