Harker, Branham make history with ‘Battle on the Turf’ volleyball match held on San Jose school’s football field

SAN JOSE — The court wasn’t quite perfect. 

Just about everything else was, though, as Harker hosted Branham in a first-of-its-kind match for Northern California, a showcase dubbed the “Battle on the Turf” as the two teams duked it out during the inaugural homecoming volleyball match on Harker’s football field. 

The weather cooperated, producing a gorgeously cloudless, nearly windless fall evening.

Later in the match, some condensation accumulated on the court and made things a little bit touch and go for the players. 

But overall, on a night where Harker beat Branham 3-1, the two teams came together to create lifelong memories for themselves and the hundreds of fans in attendance. 

There was only one question left to answer after the game.

When could they do it again?

“It was incredible,” Harker coach Theresa Smith said. “It really was. I’m at a loss for words. I’m proud of the kids. I’m proud that they were able to stand up in a moment like this, which is challenging. You don’t (typically) get a lot of people at your games, and so you don’t have big crowds, you don’t have bright lights, you don’t have everybody looking at you.”

Everyone was watching on Saturday as Harker pulled out all the stops to host the unprecedented special event. Harker staff installed a white subsurface under a sport court material right in the middle of the football turf, which worked out well until the evening dew began to take effect. 

The court surface also moderately undulated after spending some time in the sun. But thankfully, despite some serious slippage, none of the participants suffered a serious injury. 

“It was very out of this world,” Branham senior libero Kaci Nguyen said. “It’s very rare to set up something like this, especially for a high school women’s volleyball event. So it was very meaningful that Harker chose us to play against them and experience it with them.”

Harker athletics officials were hard at work in the final two sets, continuously drying the court with towels and setting up large industrial fans in an attempt to keep air circulating and prevent water from accumulating across the playing surface. 

“I was worried about that,” said Harker senior hitter Elie Ahluwalia. “I was like, ‘Let’s just get it over with so we don’t have to (get hurt).”

Ultimately, the match remained a celebration of the continued growth of women’s sports nationally. Saturday’s showcase was the latest example of a specialty event bringing in a well-above-average crowd and highlighting the untapped potential major women’s sports like volleyball bring to the table. 

“The atmosphere that we have out here is just unbelievable,” Branham coach Heather Cooper said. “I definitely cannot thank Harker staff and coach Smitty enough for the opportunity to have this historical moment for these athletes and these coaches. I’m still kind of like, ‘What just happened?’”

“I told my girls, ‘We won already.’ It didn’t matter how the outcome of this game was going to be, we won just by being here and having the opportunity to play Harker outside on Davis Field.”

For the seniors in particular, there was profound gratitude that they were able to experience this occasion before their volleyball careers came to an end. 

“Seeing college games like when Nebraska did it, it shows how grateful I am to do this in high school,” Branham senior defensive specialist Lan LeGentry said. “I never thought I’d have this chance. This is a memorable moment for everyone on this team, and it definitely will go down in history and what I will remember in the future.” 

Smith mentioned an interest in replicating the event in the years to come. But no matter when it is done again, those who took part on Saturday will always be able to say they were the first high school teams to play such a match in Northern California. 

“It’s a really cool opportunity for women’s sports, too,” Branham junior middle hitter Katelyn Kiratsous said, “because football games in high school get this kind of attention all the time. It’s cool to see other sports and women’s sports getting the same kind of attention. I’m very grateful that we were chosen to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

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