Thieves steal gear from Yosemite High School's volleyball team during smash and grab

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A smash and grab burglary in Fresno nearly derailed a high school volleyball team's tournament dreams.

Fresno police are now searching for suspects who broke into the Yosemite High School varsity van - stealing everything in sight.

The team at just won against Bullard High School when they stopped to pick up some food before heading to another game and thieves nearly derailed their plan.

High after their win against some tough competition Thursday, the Yosemite girl's volleyball team went to a Fresno Chili's to celebrate.

"I go over there and literally glass everywhere and a cleaned out van, like nothing they've taken everything," coach Michelle Chenowith said.

While they were eating, thieves stole half of the team's uniforms, shoes, and kneepads - leaving them with nothing 12 hours ahead of a crucial tournament in Visalia.

"I started crying," senior Rachel Loveland said. "It was a rough day, nothing like this had ever happened to us."

But this is also a varsity team that never backs down from a challenge.

"We are not going to be the victims," Loveland said. "We are not going to play the victim."

They fought back by rallying around each other.

They started piecemealing it, I got size seven shoes, I have 10 shoes, they are literally wearing each other's clothes to try and get through today," Chenowith said.

Other teams may rely on individual players to succeed, but at Yosemite, it's teamwork and determination that pushes these girls to new heights.

"I think that we are just going to put all of our frustration into the game," junior Jordan Jackson said.