WCDS Varsity Volleyball 3-0 Sweep in Season Opener
Starting the season off with the bang, the WCDS Owls hosted the Massanutten Military Academy Colonels and won in three consecutive sets, 25-14, 25-18, 25-14. With five starting seniors, this is a big year for the Owls. "It is a bittersweet game knowing that it is my last first-game in high school, but I'm looking forward to the season in front of us," says senior, middle hitter Hannah Burak. Outside hitter Mari Tisera adds, "Looking back on my seven years of playing, I know I've made lasting memories and am grateful to have played with such a remarkable team." Seniors notwithstanding, the younger players who make up the remainder of the team are integral to its success. "Watching these younger players -- Alexis, Ruthie, Maeve, the Sophias -- dominate in our season opener feels great," says senior, Setter Gwynn Major. "I know these players can hold their own and they haven't even reached their full potential on the court yet." In her 17th year as Head Coach of the Varsity Volleyball team, Suzanne Zylonis remarks, "Each season is incredible, but some really have impact. Watching these young women grow over the last several seasons and prove themselves on the court time-and-time-again is truly remarkable. They have all the best qualities of a student-athlete: grit, true team spirit, incredible sportsmanship, and a real desire to be competitive. Coaching at WCDS is an honor; I look forward to it every summer, and this year is no exception. Our back-office managers, Natara Dulaney, Camille Lummis and Anna Wu really round out our team. I'm really excited to watch how this season develops." Middle Hitter Emma Cotter adds: "Having played on the varsity volleyball team for 4 years it has been surreal to start my last year. The first game is always great fun. The whole team is getting back into the zone and you get to truly see how well the team gets to work with each other. This season we have some very skilled new players so it should be fun to teach them the ropes. It’s fitting that our last year will be spent teaching the next team generation . I just hope this season goes slowly because I never want it to end." Lexi Kurtz, senior and setter, sums it up perfectly: "I can already tell our team is going to do amazing things this year. We had a great start with our first game--working together and learning from our mistakes. But most importantly, we encourage each other and we work as a team. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls to end my high school volleyball career with."