Heather Ordoñez stood alongside her three daughters — Annika, Mariska and Evalyn —postgame Monday, proudly displaying a purple heart on one cheek and a navy one on the other.
Heather also wore a split T-shirt with Long Reach on one side and Howard on the other, easily the most impartial fan in the gym. Mariska is a standout junior with Howard volleyball, while Evalyn, a freshman, made Long Reach’s varsity.
The Ordoñez family began thinking about this potential matchup two years ago. Monday night at Long Reach that long-awaited moment became a reality as the Lightning hosted the top-ranked Lions.
Howard earned a convincing 25-16, 25-10, 25-13 sweep, but the chance for sisters to share the court as competitors won’t soon be forgotten.
“I was nervous. I was excited,” Heather Ordoñez said. “I got teary-eyed at times. It was a lot of fun. We joked that if Evalyn made varsity as a freshman, they would play each other. Two years ago, we said that. We had no idea we’d be here. I probably won’t even remember who won. I’ll remember that I was here, and I got to spend the night with them.”
Pregame, Long Reach coach Jen Van Oosten explained the game’s added significance with the Lightning raising money for breast cancer awareness and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. With Long Reach in their pink uniforms, Van Oosten, a breast cancer survivor, shared her story and the importance of the cause.
Then, in a special moment, Van Oosten passed the microphone to Heather, who announced her daughters to the crowd during lineup introductions. Postgame, both sisters identified that moment as something they’ll fondly reflect back on moving forward.
The siblings jokingly smiled and laughed as they high-fived under the net in the customary pre-match line. However, the competitive edge also began setting in during that moment.
Mariska conceded that there was a heightened competition level with her sister on the other side. Meanwhile, Evalyn joked that it was scary seeing her sister on the other side of the court with Mariska saying that she was aiming for her.
“It was just like seeing myself,” Mariska said of seeing her younger sister across the net. “I remember playing when I was younger, I always had people that I looked up to. I just hope that she looks up to me.”
When not facing one another, the sisters typically debrief after each match. They often watch film, discuss strategy and different ways to improve. Entering Monday, the Lightning and Lions shared seven common opponents with many of those teams facing Long Reach immediately after Howard by coincidence.
“She tells me a lot about the other team and what they do and don’t do,” Evalyn said. “It really helps me. I also get to watch them play and it helps me know what I can do.”
While there were nerves and excitement entering the match, each sister played a key role for their respective teams. Mariska finished second on the team with eight kills, while Evalyn admittedly played better than she thought with the added emotions of facing her older sister.
“It was pretty fun,” Howard coach Grant Scott said. “I’ve coached a lot of sister pairs. I’ve never coached one when the other is on the other court. “You could see both athletes were having fun but also a little bit nervous. Both girls played well and I’m proud of both of them.”
Both sisters acknowledged the rarity of the moment, not only competing against one another on the varsity level, but doing so at rival high schools. Heather often reminded them of that uniqueness entering Monday’s match, the culmination of a day years in the making.
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