Girls Varsity Volleyball Digs Deep for Victory

 

The varsity girls volleyball team understands this better than most. 

The Panthers recorded their first win of the season on Thursday, October 16, defeating visiting EF Academy, 3-2, at the Fonseca Center.  

“Every practice we've improved, and every game we got closer and closer to a win,” senior co-captain Ginger Yancovich said. “It was really nice to see everything that we've worked really hard on come together to get the win. I think that it was just about keeping up our drive and determination in every single game, no matter what school we played.”

The bleachers at the Fonseca Center were packed, as students, parents, faculty, staff and administrators came out to cheer on the Panthers during a Pack the Den game.

“We were hyped up and played aggressively,” co-captain Azariah Charles ’26 said. “We had some key saves and serves which helped us win the game. Our team was able to push toward a win by using our losses as our motivation. We just kept pushing because we were hungry for a win. It was exhilarating having so many people cheering us on, especially because the game was such a nail-biter — there was not a single dull moment. Even when we were down, the crowd was still active with cheers supporting us.”

Charles filled up the stat sheet with 3 aces, 5 kills, 1 block and 5 digs. Yancovich chipped in with 3 aces, 2 kills, 8 kill assists and 1 block. Ariella Crane ’28 notched a team-high 7 kills and served 3 aces. Allat Yussupova ’26 recorded a team-high 4 blocks, Abby Israel ’28 led the Panthers with 6 digs and Jessica Grant ’28 had a team-high 4 aces. 

“I think for us it was just the mindset shift of really believing that this was our game,” Yancovich said of the team's key to victory. “The confidence that we've needed was really showing up, and I'm so proud of the girls for sticking with it and fighting hard through all five sets. Everyone did really well. Zari and Ari got some amazing swings, and overall, everyone was playing their best.”

Masters closes out the regular season with a pair of league games on the road at Rye Country Day School (October 22) and Greenwich Country Day School (October 24).

“I'd love to keep up the momentum!” Yancovich said, looking ahead to the final two matches of the fall campaign. “We had a great senior game on Saturday [a hard-fought 3-1 loss to St. Luke's] after the EF game, and it would be so amazing to end the season with the same energy we've shown in the past couple of days. I'm so proud of how much we've grown as a team, and I look forward to hopefully getting another win and having a memorable end of season this year.”