Hailey Piasecki ’26 spikes the ball.
Girls Volleyball had its annual Andover/Exeter (A/E) match, ending in a 3-0 victory for Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter). The team showed immense heart and determination throughout the game, keeping positive energy through the last few points.
The atmosphere of the game was charged with pressure and intensity. Hailey Piasecki ’26 reflected on the match and acknowledged the weight of the rivalry.
“I had a lot of fun in the game, but with how stressful and how much pressure there is during A/E, we let that get to us a little bit, so we played pretty tense and a little timid. We could have done better, but it was overall still fun,” said Piasecki.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Piasecki noted the pivotal role of Kate Rodgers ’26, whose energy and leadership were a driving force for the team. Another was Ashley Schuman ’27, whose ability to dig and return difficult shots helped defend against Exeter’s potent offense and build Andover’s own attacks.
Piasecki said, “I would definitely say Kate was a key player. She had such constant energy, and was smiling the whole time no matter what the score was or how well we were doing, and she just brought our energy up so much. I would also say Ashley did [an] amazing back row. Her defense always carries us through these games, and she’s such a consistent player. We can always count on her.”
Selene Xu ’27 also highlighted Schuman’s exceptional defense, which was vital in keeping Exeter’s powerful hitters at bay.
“Ashley did a good job of defense at this game. She’s always [played] consistently throughout the season, but this game too, especially against Exeter’s very strong hitters. She was diving all over the place to keep the ball alive. No matter how far it was, she was diving all over the place. I just want to applaud her because everything else depends on defense, and she’s been doing really great the whole season, and she’s the foundation of the whole team,” said Xu
Piasecki commended Zoe Gilbertson ’27 for stepping up when Co-Captain Sophie Holten-Moravek ’25 had to leave the court because of a recurring injury. Piasecki emphasized the grit that each player put into the last few points of the game, fighting until the very end of the season.
“A key moment was when Sophie had to step off, and Zoe stepped up and totally came in with a smile, had amazing energy, and really killed it. Another key moment is just the last couple points. We all came together and really just left it all out there on the court, and put our all into every play because we were recognizing that this could be the end of our season, and we really went all out in those last couple points,” Piasecki said.
Gracie Aziabor ’26 noted the emotions that came with the last game of the season. She shared that, despite the loss, the team managed to keep its energy up.
“It was bittersweet just because, not even considering the result, it was the last game of the season, our last time playing with some of our Seniors, or playing with that team or that iteration of the team for a year. It was more sad feelings that the season was ending, but I know it was also a fun time. Even though we did lose the game, the team’s energy was really good throughout,” said Aziabor.
Despite the 3-0 loss, Girls Volleyball showed moments of resilience and teamwork. Xu noted the team’s optimism during the game and its growth this season.
Xu said, “Overall, it definitely could have [been] played better, but the energy level overall is really good, whether it was from our fans or from the bench, or just on the court in general. Everyone had a positive attitude, and it definitely worked through a lot of hard plays. Even though the result definitely wasn’t the best, I’m really proud of not only this game, but seeing how we’ve grown as a team since the beginning,” said Xu.
