Girls Volleyball (0-5) faced off against Loomis Chaffee (Loomis) on Saturday and Groton on Wednesday, competing hard in both matches. The team demonstrated determination and strong teamwork throughout both games, despite coming up short in a three-set match against both teams.
According to Rihana Gomez ’26, even though both matches ended in losses, the team’s performance has improved significantly since the start of the season.
“Obviously, both of those games did not go the way that we wanted. But overall, our performance has really improved since the beginning of the season. All our practice and hard work has really paid off in these last couple of games. If I were to compare our team from our very first game against Dana Hall to the latest game against Groton, it’s two completely different teams in a very positive way,” said Gomez.
Sophia Fang ’28 also pointed out moments of skill and teamwork that stood out in both games. Particularly during critical rallies, some players stepped up and made big plays.
“A highlight from our game against Loomis was during a tense rally back and forth, where neither side could score. Gracie [Aziabor ’26], one of our middles, went up to hit the ball and was blocked, but she reacted quickly, passing it to a smart spot a couple feet off the net. Loomis didn’t see this coming, and they weren’t able to pick up the ball, so we ended up winning the point,” said Fang.
Both players acknowledged that keeping energy and focus throughout the matches were a challenge, but they emphasized how the team’s communication and connection helped overcome these adversities.
“One challenge we faced was keeping our energy up throughout the entirety of the games. Energy is really important in a fast-paced game like volleyball. Sometimes we’d be really up, then have moments where it trickled down. But we’ve improved on that because we’ve become closer as a team. That connection makes it super easy to be energetic on the bench, loud, cheerful, and just have fun, which is the most important part,” said Gomez.
Fang emphasized the team’s communication and adaptability on the court as a key factor in their success. The Co-Captains Kate Rodgers ’26 and Nneka Ezeike ’26 have been especially inspirational.
“Our blocking has been really on point these past two games. Our middles, right side, and outside hitters have been able to communicate a lot. This hard work has really helped us bounce back in moments where we are down, getting back into the flow of the game,” said Fang. She continued, “Both of our team captains, Kate and Nneka, have been doing really well leading the team on the court and keeping the energy positive no matter what. They offer helpful advice and push us to communicate and want the ball, which is something I appreciate.”
Girls Volleyball looks forward to building on its recent growth as a team and will travel to Tabor on Saturday, September 27.
