By Annabel Zaterka’27
Bump-set-spike! Volleyball has arrived at St. Mark’s! After many years of waiting, St. Mark’s is excited to add a volleyball team to the athletic program this year. For several years, St. Mark’s was the only school in the ISL without a volleyball team. After weeks of training, varsity volleyball is optimistic about its very first season and promising future.
In the past five years, the St. Mark’s Admissions Office logged over 400 applicants who showed interest in volleyball. It was clear that having a team would not only generate more interest in the school; it would also offer students more athletic options in the fall. While the new team is officially part of the ISL, they are not playing a full league schedule until the 2024 season. Coached by Lauren Kelly and Lina Long, the 16 players are focused on building a strong volleyball foundation this year and a program that can compete against other ISL varsity teams. This season, they will match up against a mixture of ISL and non-ISL teams to experience various skill levels. Next year, the team will play a full ISL schedule, and Athletic Director Lauren Ames is hoping to add a JV team “because interest is high.”
Although the program has had a slow start due to unforeseen issues with the court installation, the team is ready to compete in their first match on October 4th! Ms. Ames is grateful for everyone who contributed to the team’s inaugural season. “Huge kudos to Coach Kelly for her wisdom, knowledge, experience, and patience in getting the program going!” She also points to instrumental support from Mr. Warren, Mr. Kuklewicz, and other members of the St. Mark’s faculty and staff. The team hopes to see the stands packed for their first home match in the MFAC on Saturday, October 14, and again on November 11 for a rousing game against Groton. Go, St. Mark’s!
