Losses spur Bolles volleyball team to postseason run

Coaches often preach to their players that they must be able to learn from losses.

The Bolles volleyball team received that type of education last month - courtesy of two area rivals.

The Bulldogs fell 3-1 to Fernandina Beach on Oct. 4, ending Senior Night on a disappointing note for Bolles seniors Gabby Mallette, Aubrey Del Rio and Hannah Schellenberg.

Nine days later, the Bulldogs lost 3-2 to district rival Episcopal.

"We lost a couple tough matches and faced some adversity, and I'm really proud of the way the girls responded to the challenge of that," Bolles coach Elise Bush said. "They could have caved … but they became determined and united and started refocusing. That's a sign of maturity and good leadership."

That leadership and maturity have propelled the Bulldogs back to the final four.

Mallette, Del Rio and Schellenberg said they knew after the loss to Episcopal - a team they had just beaten in the Bolles Invitational - that they needed to take the initiative to put the Bulldogs back on track.

"It sparked a fire in us that we weren't going to let this happen anymore," said Del Rio, daughter of Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio. "It didn't even have to be said. It was just one common feeling that we all felt."

The trio said it didn't take long for the Bulldogs to get on the same page.

"I think we all just had the same mindset that we were all capable of playing better than we had been," Schellenberg said. "We all wanted to work together as a team and improve."

Bolles (23-7) hasn't lost a match since. The Bulldogs even exacted some revenge in the postseason, defeating Episcopal 3-1 in the district tournament and bouncing Fernandina Beach 3-0 in the regional semifinals.

Mallette said the Pirates faced a completely different team in the playoffs from the one they defeated.

"We were pretty stoked to come back at [Fernandina Beach]," Mallette said. "We were so pumped to play them. Seeing them walk in the gym, they were acting like they had it already. … [But] they weren't used to seeing us play how we were [playing in the postseason]. … You could tell they were shocked."

Now Mallette, Del Rio, Schellenberg and their Bulldogs teammates face their toughest test of the season against nationally ranked Bishop Moore.