Athletes of the Week: Sophie Faliero & Jenny Yang

After placing second in the NEPSAC league last year, the Exeter girls’ varsity volleyball team is one of the strongest teams in the league. Four-year seniors Sophie Faliero and Jenny Yang led the talented group this fall as co-captains.

For Yang, her volleyball career began in sixth grade when she joined her middle school team. She quickly took a liking to the sport and continued to play through middle school and also joined a club team during her seventh and eighth-grade years. When she came to tryouts her prep year, she made varsity and has been an integral part of the team ever since.

What Yang loves most about the sport is how team orientated it is. “Volleyball is probably the ultimate team sport,” she explained. “You need to rely on your teammates to keep the ball in play, and everyone has to come together to get better, and to lift each other up.”

Yang is very close with her team, and since her prep year, she has been inspired by each year’s co-captains. In turn, inspiring the younger members of the team is something she wishes to continue as co-captain this year. “I’m excited to be a role model and someone who my teammates can look up to,” she said. “I remember always being inspired by my captains from prep to upper year, and I’m thrilled to how the opportunity to be in that position for someone else now.”

Yang’s goal as a captain is to foster a supportive team environment, especially when someone is having a bad day. “I try to encourage the team to lift each other up. When someone is having an off day, I hope teammates will swoop in and support her, so that she doesn’t just shut down and stay quiet,” she said.

Clearly, her and Faliero’s efforts as co-captains have been effective, as senior Ela Ferhangil said, “ I have had moments when I’m super frustrated or upset, and Jenny and Sophie get me back on my feet and confident again.”

Lower Brody Faliero, Sophie’s younger sister, also commented on Yang’s work ethic and skill by saying, “She is insanely hard working and dumb-nice when it comes to setting. Her drive to focus and continuously improve her skills makes it obvious she deserves the position of captain. Soph and Jenny are some of the team’s best role models, and we are fortunate to have them as our captains.”

Sophie Faliero’s introduction to the sport was very similar to Yang’s. She began playing in sixth grade, and also played for a club team before making varsity her prep year at Exeter. Sophie Faliero loves the camaraderie she shares with her teammates, attributing to her passion for the sport. Additionally, she also loves the fact that the whole team must chip in to win games. Apart from this, she likes the fast-paced action of the sport. “Aside from the team, there’s just a great sense of satisfaction that comes from winning a game, or getting a kill, or great dig or something. Because it’s a very fast-paced game, there are a lot of point-scoring opportunities and each point is proof of practice paying off which keeps you energized for the next,”  she said.

Although Sophie Faliero has been enjoying her role as captain, she does not think that being a captain is different from being a younger player on the team. She said, “Honestly, leading the team as a captain is not much different from being a younger player on the team. On the team, everyone leads each other in their own way.”

When asked what she believes to be the core values of the team, Sophie Faliero answered, “Our team prides itself on enthusiasm. In the four years I’ve played with the team, there has never been a group of people unwilling to cheer as loud as possible and bring people up when they’re down.”

The captains’ athleticism inspires the other girls and motivates them to get better. Senior Anna Shattuck said, “As athletes, they are consistent and reliable. The team can count on them to perform well.”

Brody Faliero reflected on her sister’s growth in the sport.“Since Sophie is my sister, obviously, I have been able to watch her develop her love for the sport and this team over so much time. She brings 100% of her energy and effort to every practice, and she is genuinely determined to make our team better. Her hits are also, nuclear.”

Lower Dylan O’Day added, “They have always been excellent athletes that I looked up to as someone who just starting to play the game.” Upper Mia Glinn agreed. “They are our best players on the team, and they are always pushing us to be our best, and to work together.”

Glinn shared a specific moment that reflected the captains’ supportive nature.“At our recent game against Loomis, I was having a very rough game, and Sophie was there to remind me that I am a good player, and that I’m a beast.” she explained. “I wouldn’t have gone back in the game without my captains’ loving support.”

Regarding their specific positions, Yang explained how her and Sophie Faliero have a cooperative dynamic on and off the court. “We’re such a duo on the court since she’s a hitter and I’m a setter, so that means we often feed off each others’ energy.”

This duo has been playing together for four years, and now in their senior year, their chemistry is off the charts. Ferhangil elaborated on their chemistry by saying, “Sophie and Jenny are always in-sync with one another on the court. It’s really fun to watch Sophie get a kill after a perfect set from Jenny.”

Sophie Faliero further emphasized the importance of their connection, and the dedication of her fellow co-captain. “I literally would not be able to play without her. Her amazing sets are the only reason I even have the opportunity to hit a ball,” she said. “She lays the foundation for every win the team has, doing all the hard work to make what everyone else does look easier.”

Under the leadership of these two great captains, the team is very excited for the games to come. “This season, with Sophie and Jenny as our captains, I look forward to seeing our team make it to the championships and grow as a team,” O’Day said.

Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end. After four years, this will be Yang and Sophie Faliero’s last season playing for Big Red. “I look forward to spending my senior season with them. They are great people to be around and great friends,” Shattuck said. “I think I’m truly lucky to have met both of them.”

After Yang moves on from Exeter, she still hopes to continue her passion for volleyball. Yang stated, “I definitely hope I can [continue to play volleyball], whether that’s playing D3 [in college] or just for fun, volleyball has been such a big part of my life for the last several years, that it wouldn’t feel right to just stop playing suddenly.”

While Sophie Faliero has other plans for college, she insisted that her passion for the sport will live on. “I plan on rowing in college, but that won’t kill my passion for volleyball,” she said. “I’ll be sure to get back on a court whenever I can.”