Volleyball (7-6) lost to Milton Academy in a nail-biting fifth set. Despite the team’s strong effort to tie the score 2-2 after losing the first two sets, the team fell short in the fifth, leaving Milton with a victory overall. Volleyball continues the season in high spirits and remains prepared for its game against Phillips Exeter Academy for Fall Andover/Exeter (A/E).
With Co-Captains Saraya Angbazo ’25 and Sophie Holten ’25, cheering from the sidelines due to injury, the team chose to harness this as inspiration. Gracie Aziabor ’26 shared the team’s goal to win for the Co-Captains, especially with it being Senior Night.
“We were playing for our two Seniors who couldn’t be on the court with us, and how we were going to use that as motivation instead of getting motivation from the fact that we wanted to beat Milton, but the fact that we were playing for Sophie and Saraya,” said Aziabor.
Holten praised her teammates for the come-back to grasp the third and fourth sets of the game. She highlighted the high spirits of the team, noting its never-give-up mindset and commending its positive attitude.
Holten said, “Our team had a slow start on the court during games. However, we have enough fire to bring it back, especially for games like that. We struggled with the execution in the end, but overall, I was just super proud of how all of the players on our team have just been really using their voice.”
Jaqueline Li ’27 highlighted Kate Rodgers ’26 for her impressive spikes during the game and her crucial role in winning plays.
“One of the players that stood out was Kate. She just kept on swinging, and she had a really good hitting day. Even though she didn’t say that she did when we talked after the game, a lot of the plays that she had were great,” said Li.
Holten mentioned that Gracie Aziabor ’26 and Ashley Schuman ’27 both had a positive impact on the game, giving it their all in their respective positions.
“I undoubtedly say that Gracie was just so great in the middle. I am always so impressed, and I love to watch her play. And then our libero, Ashley, who’s just been killing it this year,” said Holten.
Despite the loss, Holten highlighted the team’s perseverance. She noted that in order to reach the next level, the team will need to work on its mental strength.
Holten said, “Our strength was definitely our attitude and the way we came back. I’d say a weakness of ours is obviously since volleyball is a mental sport, getting into ruts or letting those teams that are pretty good go on little point streaks is where we struggle to dig ourselves out of. Continuing to work on that, and we have been just on and off the court really incorporating that mental strength piece into our game is going to be what really pushes us forward and through the rest of our season.”
With only one game remaining, Aziabor anticipates that motivation will be the key focus for practice this upcoming week, making sure the team finishes the season off strong.
“Although A/E is going to be our last game of the season, we should go out with a bang, and we shouldn’t feel defeated, we should try and leave on a high note. I definitely think it’s going to be a lot of team conversation about being disciplined and being motivated,” said Aziabor.
Girls Volleyball will have a home game next Saturday for A/E.
Editor’s Note: Gracie Aziabor is a Layout Associate for The Phillipian.
