Traditionally at Stamford High School, volleyball nets had been a part of the fall sports season. Since the spring of 2018, these nets have made an appearance as a building effort undertaken within the walls of the Kuzco Gym. 

This spring the boys volleyball team is excited and hopeful for their third season playing in the rugged boys FCIAC volleyball league. Yes, if you didn’t know, we do have a boys’ volleyball team at Stamford High. This unfamiliarity with the sport’s existence may be attributed to the youth of this spring sports program. Stamford High was one of the last schools to add a boys volleyball team.

 As you can imagine, there are several challenges involved in launching a new sports program. Sheena Carpenter, Stamford High Boys Varsity Volleyball Coach who has led the team since its inaugural season said, “The first year was a time for learning.” Most of the players were new to the sport, whereby it was all about learning the rules, techniques, and strategies of the game. Coach Carpenter brings a great deal of volleyball experience and knowledge to impart upon the team, “Out of all the sports that I have played, volleyball is my favorite,” Coach Carpenter added. She passes on to her players her passion and love for volleyball, which creates a high level of energy on the court.

Last year which was the boys second year playing as a team at Stamford Highschool, were not able to secure any wins as a team. But as Carpenter adds, “They displayed a higher level of skill and competitiveness,” as they were able to keep the opponent on their toes battling it out back and forth through each game. More experience is responsible for this development of competitiveness and skill of the game. The boys are doing a lot to prepare as their third season is on the rise. From scrimmages at Chelsea Piers to weight training in the weight room at Stamford High, they are all in for this season. In addition to their list of preseason training, the team is hoping to play in a numerous amount of Jamborees to help prepare them for the competitive teams they will be facing in the FCIAC. Carpenter believes that playing in these Jamborees will allow the boys to figure out their role on the court. With all this training, you don’t want to miss these games, make sure you stop by the Kuzco Gym to see these boys in action. 

With the new season approaching, it’s all about setting goals, “A realistic goal for me, I’ll be happy if I get ten wins,” Carpenter stated. Other added goals mentioned were to be city champs, meaning beating both Westhill and Trinity. Also, a significant fundraising effort is put in for the team this year in buying new volleyball equipment. 

Most returning players this year are Juniors, who most have been playing for the past two years now since the inaugural season, “We’re not playing as freshmen anymore we’re playing as juniors now, so there are no excuses,” Carpenter added. They have two years under their belt, so watch out for them on the court and to many others on the team. The team is additionally hoping to find new recruitments of all grades to join the team this year. They are always open to new players in the program. If you have any interest in the sport, definitely try it out.