This year, Friends Academy has introduced its first Girls Volleyball Team for the fall season. The team is coached by the former Associate Head Coach of the Hofstra Women’s Volleyball Team, Hava Davis. The team consists of 13 members: Arielle R., Hannah H, Malia B., Julia B., Kaylee W., Liana D., Serena C., Sofia X., Ally G., Layla H., Aveline H., Brooke B., and Catherine P. This team has proven that being the first is not about being perfect, but about being passionate, dedicated, and focused on building something great as a team.
The team began practicing in late August and started practicing five days a week to work on fundamentals such as serving, setting, and passing. While the majority of the players on the team are new to volleyball, they have built very strong bonds with each other. In a recent team survey, players highlighted recent improvements to their abilities, such as defense, receiving, passing, and hitting, when compared to the beginning of the season. As Arielle Roberts, the senior captain of the team, stated, “This season has been most enjoyable because of building a connection with each of my teammates and growing alongside them.” The team culture is defined by positive energy and encouragement. When asked to describe the team’s spirit, players consistently used words like “supportive,” “motivating,” and “energetic.” The team-bonding experience was summed up by team members as being “Exciting,” “Fantastic,” “Unforgettable,” and “Fun.”
The beginning of the season was challenging, as is typical for any first-year program, but the athletes found that their skills improved across the board. The team experienced a rough start with a few matches; however, in the second half of the season, everyone became more confident and enjoyed the games. On October 27, 2025, during Senior Night, the volleyball team celebrated a victory against Wheatley. They followed this with another win against Cold Spring Harbor on October 29, marking the end of a successful season. The intensity of their hard work paid off in a big way.
While many players celebrated personal milestones—like the excitement of landing a first serve—the most memorable moment for the majority of the team was a shared one: winning their first game. Seeing their collective effort result in a victory provided a huge boost in confidence and pride amongst the team. It is this spirit and dedication shown during the season that suggests that a bright future is ahead for FA Volleyball.
