News Reporter
With only seven matches left to play, the Choate Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team looks poised to finish the season very strongly. In elevnen matches this year, the Boars have compiled a record of 8 wins and 3 losses. The team won its first fives game of the season. Their first loss came against a very tough Phillips Andover Academy team, and dropped another game against Loomis Chafee after a controversial call was made against the Choate team. In the girl’s game this past Wednesday, the match was tied 14-14 in the 5th game when Isabel Aguirre ‘08 seemed to get Choate a lead with a beautiful tip to make the game 15-14. And then out of nowhere came the referee’s whistle, followed by a carry call on Aguirre. If the call had gone to Choate’s side, the team’s record would now stand at 9-2.
The Choate’s team success can be attributed to great teamwork, brilliant individual play and good coaching from Mr. Dormandy and Mr. Mobley. The roster is composed of a group of veteran varsity players including Captains Jessica Gundersen ’07 and Bridget Vaughn ’08, Katie Defusco ’09, Isabel Aguirre ’08, and Renee DeBruin ’08. Joining the veterans on the squad are former Junior Varsity players, Alison Hinckley ’08, Charlotte McCurdy ’08, Annie Oxborough-Yankus ’08, Jackie Salzillo ’08 and Amanda Nielsen ’08. And rounding out the roster are two 3rd formers, Kelly Sheehan and Mara Melstrom. This is the first time in twenty-two years that two freshmen have made the Girls Varsity Volleyball team in the same season.
The team is composed of several amazing servers, Kate Defusco, Mara Melstrom, and Bridget Vaughn, along with an amazing setter in Jessica Gundersen, and they finish off points with impressive kills from Renee DeBruin and Isabel Aguirre. But the team’s strength lies in its depth: every player on the team is capable of contributing.
The team is poised for a run deep into the New England Postseason tournament and has an excellent chance at winning it all. As manager Adi Rajagopalan ‘09 puts it, “This team is most definitely is one of the elite teams in New England.”
