Going into sixth grade, Boys Volleyball Co-Captain Ajay Mistry ’26 tried the sport for the first time. He did not enjoy it at the time, often saying that his arms hurt too much, and before coming to Andover, volleyball was not something he planned to pursue. However, after trying out for the team at Andover, he continued with the sport.
Mistry said that older players on the team influenced his perspective and approach.
“I saw the Seniors back then, and they had so much passion for the game. I saw that and wanted to be like them when I got older and progressed through Andover. I have always thought back to their passion and their love for the game. Hopefully, I can be that role model for anyone who wants to play volleyball, and they can just look at me as someone who loves the sport for what it is,” said Mistry.
Alex Godsey ’28, a new player on the team, described Mistry’s support as he joined the roster.
“He definitely supports you, and he encourages you. He’ll tell you when you made a great pass, and he’ll give you feedback if you need it in the nicest way possible. He really makes me feel a part of the team, and he makes me feel like I’m good enough to be there and to be playing with the Varsity squad,” said Godsey.
Mistry joined the team last year and began building relationships with teammates and coaches. Ren Oh ’28, who joined the team at the same time, described him as approachable.
“He’s just a really easy person to talk to. That’s the biggest thing. If you hear anyone talk about Ajay, he’s super chill, very friendly, and has the right demeanor,” said Oh.
One of Mistry’s goals this season connects players across both Varsity and Junior Varsity (JV) teams.
“I want to be there for all the younger players. One of the things that I didn’t like when I was on JV was that the captains never wanted to interact with the JV players. This year, I really want to try and reach out to them a lot and be a mentor for them,” said Mistry.
Mistry also described the team’s efforts to build connections outside of practice, including weekly team dinners.
“We usually have team dinners every Friday organized by the captains and our coach, Coach Mackinson. They are going to be hosting at his house this year, which I’m really looking forward to because last year they were at Coach Beckwith’s house, so we’ll have a new person cooking this year,” said Mistry.
Godsey commented on the differences in leadership styles between Mistry and Co-Captain Ray Williams ’26.
“He understands his role and the balance between him and Ray. Ray is super energetic and always cheering, yelling, and getting people involved. It’s like a yin-yang: Ray is that energy, and Ajay is like the calm presence. He knows when to get excited; he does, but it’s definitely not the kind of wild noise from some of the other players. It’s calmer and more controlled,” said Godsey.
