This year the Analy volleyball program has come out strong and ready to take on the SCLs and beyond. The freshman team has proved to fight hard in every match, taking their newfound responsibilities as high school student-athletes seriously, but not too seriously, as evidenced by their playful relationship with their returning coach Stephanie Mudd. Their exuberance when learning program traditions such as dancing in front of the whole program when they leave something behind at practice is indicative of the best sort of Analy spirit.

The JV team has the good fortune of being coached by one of Analy’s own, Ms. Erin Elliot, math teacher and volleyball coach extraordinaire. Many of the girls played together last year, and the team chemistry is evident every time they step on the court. Team captain Viviana Vigil created a dance with the help of the team last week, and this dance now opens up every game for the JV Lady Tigers. “The team dance shows just how much team camaraderie we have.” says sophomore JV starter, Alexis Dibene. A program’s JV team is so integral to its future success, and varsity coach Holly Folendorf is very excited to see these girls move up through her program in the coming years. Analy volleyball will be theirs for the taking soon–and the school will continue to benefit from their unstoppable positivity and raw skill on the court.

This year’s varsity squad takes senioritis to a whole new level. With eight seniors on and around the court at any given time, it’s surprising that wheelchairs and walkers aren’t a required piece of equipment like knee pads and ankle braces! But despite the prevalence of arthritis and prune juice, with so many girls having played together for so long, the team is off to a good start. The addition of seasoned juniors and new faces creates a team large in number and in heart. As eloquently stated by senior middle blocker Sarah Kadlec, “Volleyball has taught me that teammates are not only people you play a sport with, but some of the best friends you could ever ask for.”

The elderly aspect of the team in no way, however, precludes players from keeping up the intensity. When asked to describe the varsity squad in four words, senior captain Lexis Mudd fired her answer back nearly as hard as her jump serve. “Girls who freaking volley!” When asked how the volleyball program embodies Analy spirit, senior captain Julia Sullivan replied with a gentle tone that belied her tendency to rack up 24 kills in one game; “Analy volleyball accurately represents the tiger spirit because we never fail to have fun while we play and we encourage each other to progress as athletes.” Very well, Miss Sullivan, but does the other team have fun when you’re threatening their safety with your swing? Senior starting setter Emma Wollmer summed up the varsity squad when she said, “For me, most of my best friends are on the court with me every day, blood sweat and tears. It’s hard to come by this team connection, but the Tiger program is no doubt the exception.”

The girls volleyball program plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:15, with locations provided by the school announcements. Attendance to home games does not go without reward—free gear is thrown out to those fans that cheer the loudest and appear to be the most (classily) obnoxious!

Go Lady Tigers!