Volleyball Breezes Past Loomis 3-0
Last Saturday, Exeter’s varsity girls’ volleyball team prevailed in their away game against Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, securing another win for their undefeated season record, which now stands at six wins and no losses.
"Loomis wasn't ready for our drive, and our players were really strong this weekend. We nearly doubled the Loomis team's points set after set."
Not only have the girls won every game they have played so far, they have yet to lose a single set. The Loomis game was no different, with the Exeter team sweeping all three sets, with scores of 25-11, 25-13 and 25-14.
Exeter players rushed into the game with confidence, knowing that they had defeated Loomis in the season prior. The first two sets went smoothly for Big Red, with stellar hitting from upper Sophie Faliero and a good offensive lineup. “We went into the game really prepared and ready to win, with a ton of energy,” upper Jenny Yang said. “The first two sets came pretty easily because everyone was doing their job.”
Prep Brody Faliero agreed. “Saturday’s game was a pretty easy win, at least for the first two sets,” she said. “Loomis wasn’t ready for our drive, and our players were really strong this weekend. We nearly doubled the Loomis team’s points set after set.”
In the third set, Exeter faltered a bit as the Loomis offensive lineup demonstrated stronger passing between players, but their stratagem pushed Exeter’s own offensive players to hit harder and find holes in the Loomis defense.
Another challenge during the last set was the tough hits and blocks delivered by a Loomis outside hitter. However, Exeter’s Coach Bruce Shang had foreseen the Loomis hitter as a threat, since he had met her in the Academy’s recruiting process last winter, and arranged his players in a triple blocking system on Exeter’s side of the court to respond to her hits.
“In the last set we started losing a bit of energy but quickly got back on track,” said Yang. “Our own hitters stepped up and did a good job blocking. It was overall a great game.”
Upper Tara Weil felt that the girls’ communication on the court, as well as their unrelenting support for one another, fueled their victory against Loomis. “We always have each other’s backs. We’re always cheering for one another,” she said. “I’ve noticed as the term goes on, we get better at communicating on the court, which makes for a stronger system when game time rolls around.”
The girls gear up for a home game against Northfield Mount Hermon School this Saturday. “We’re on the right track, getting stronger with each practice,” Faliero said.