Girls’ Volleyball Preps for 3-Peat: Captains Anxious to Lead Team to Victory at NE Champs

Coming off of last year’s 17-1 championship winning season, the girls’ volleyball team looks to carry its success into the upcoming year. Though it lost five members of the class of 2016 to graduation and only has three seniors this year, the team remains optimistic that its younger players will still be able to succeed and to win the championship for the third year in a row.

Over the summer, the team spent a week in Casco, Maine at Team Prep Camp—a preparatory sports program—getting ready for its upcoming season. Co-captain and senior Kat Dumoulin commented on the bonding experience. “At prep camp, it seemed like people made a seamless transition into their friendships from last season, which allowed the new people to be included faster and also become friends with returning players,” she said.

Dumoulin added that with these new friendships came competition, and that every player, returning or not, was working hard for a starting position. Upper Molly O’Day elaborated on the progress the team has been making. “The returners have been putting in work this summer and it shows in their strength and skill level,” she said.

“At prep camp, it seemed like people made a seamless transition into their friendships from last season, which allowed the new people to be included faster and also become friends with returning players.”

Every day during Prep Camp, the team had four sessions and a scrimmage against another prep school. Throughout the week, the team played Andover, St. Paul’s and Taft. In its free time, the team spent time bonding in the cabins, playing gaga ball in the gazebo and even participating in a dance competition against the other schools.

“I’m happy to report that the Andover teams took fourth and fifth, while St. Paul’s got first (because the judges felt bad they only had six people), my Exeter team took second and Rachel’s team took third,” Dumoulin said, commenting on Exeter’s performance at the dance competition.

Because of the team’s success in the past years, it doesn’t plan on making too many significant changes. However, the team does hope to build confidence in its younger players so that going forward it can dominate its competition. “As always, one thing that everyone notices we do well is cheer each other on. I’d like to think we are one of the most inclusive and supporting volleyball teams in our league, which helps us rally even if we’re down 0-24 in the final set,” Dumoulin said, commending her teammates’ encouragement.

“It’s the support of your teammates that really change the momentum of the game, especially when you know even if you mess up your teammates have your back and will pick up your slack,” Dumoulin said.

Senior and co-captain Rachel Luo expanded on Exeter’s potential this year. “I definitely think a three peat is possible, but I think the biggest challenge will be staying grounded. There’s a ton of pressure to bring another championship to Exeter, and as much as we want it I think it’ll be tough making sure it doesn’t get to us,” she said.

Big Red will play their first game at home this Wednesday against St. Paul’s, and hopes to start the season off with a win.