The Boars help raise money for breast cancer research through their charity Dig Pink match against Loomis.
On October 5, Girls’ Varsity Volleyball’s won 3-0 against Loomis at the Dig Pink charity game, marking the Boars’ sixth win of the season. The money raised through the game went to the Side-Out Foundation for breast cancer research.
Team captains Liv McCulloch ’17 and Jackie Kluge ’17, along with head coach Mr. David Loeb, have already led the team to victories against Loomis and Exeter, the reigning two-time New England champions. This is, in part, due to an influx of new talent onto the team. McCulluch said: “One of our new kids is a libero, Lani Uyeno ’19. She’s honestly such a great addition to the team.” McCulluch also noted the overall strength of the returning team members.
As of now, the Boars have an astounding seven wins and just one loss under their belt. The players partly attribute that record to the team’s closeness and camaraderie.
Uyeno commented, “I always knew I had the team. From preseason, I knew that if I went to the dining hall, I would have someone to sit with.”
From team dinners to trips to Brownstone Park, Girls’ Varsity Volleyball has slowly become a family. With seven seniors on the team, compared to last year’s three, players know each other better than they have previously. Nicole Scruggs ’17 said, “Everyone on the team just works so well with one another. The dynamic is one of the best I’ve seen since I’ve been at Choate.”
The bond of a team does seem to affect its performance. This is especially true in the sport of volleyball, in which communication is key. Player Anabel de Montebello ’18 noted, “As a team, we communicate very well. We’re always talking to each other. Also, we have gotten to a place where we can give each other pointers without being condescending or coming off as shady.”
Zeynep Ozturk ’19 attested to the spirit and friendship guiding the team. “We are one of those teams that, even if we are losing, still has a lot of energy on the court and continues to support each other,” she said.
Now with the first month of the season behind them, Girls’ Varsity Volleyball continues to work hard towards the goal of winning the New England Playoffs.
