This year is completely different, not just because of the pandemic and online learning, but because Archbishop Riordan High School has gone coed, meaning that there will be girls’ sports teams, which include volleyball and basketball. 

Riordan has had a great load of talent in the past and present with the boys’ basketball program, and is hoping to develop even more young stars with the girls’ basketball and volleyball programs.   

It’s no secret that Riordan basketball is one of the most respected programs in California. This year, the Riordan Boys’ Varsity basketball team looks to finish where they left off last year, and the new Girls’ Basketball team is just as eager. 

A new student who transferred this year from a WCAL opponent, St. Francis High School, Mia Vaihola ’23, said, “I look forward to playing with a new team and being able to show people that Riordan girls are going to bring it this season. My goals are to get stronger and build a strong start for us girls since it is the first year of girls being at Riordan.”

The Riordan Girls’ basketball team has a lot of hard workers and fans are looking forward to watching next season.   

The addition of girls to the Riordan community has introduced volleyball, a new and exciting sport that students can now look forward to playing or watching. 

One transfer student from Mercy High School San Francisco, Jessica West ’22,  is “really excited” for the season to begin and hopes that we can all get back to school soon. She is “mostly looking forward to meeting new people, becoming a family with my team, and training with Coach Watters and the other coaches at Riordan.”

The head coach of the Riordan volleyball team, Elizabeth Watters, has high expectations this season and is extremely excited to build a strong family. She said, “The ARHS volleyball program aims to develop a strong and passionate community where student-athletes will grow in their volleyball skills and work to develop leadership skills through teamwork, communication, and the adaptive pursuit of achieving individual and team goals.” 

She continued by saying, “We expect our student-athletes to live out the Riordan mantra of Pride, Purpose, and Performance. We want them to take great pride in being a member of our program and our team community.” 

The volleyball team looks to embrace Riordan’s culture and prove themselves among the WCAL.