As the crowd watched silently, the Wildcats slowly huddled together. The team was about to make history by playing the first ever volleyball game at Rye Country Day. This was the moment the Varsity Volleyball team had looked forward to since preseason started: their first scrimmage. As soon as the ball was served, Captain Cate Tucker ‘24 took charge by passing the ball up for this game’s setter, Captain Madison Haft-Abromovitch ‘24, to set the ball up for a clean hit over the net. The Wildcats immediately began cheering for their first point ever scored. 

Five grueling days a week, three hours a day, Captain Haft-Abromovitch led the team through a nerve-wracking week of tryouts and preseason. Since age 15, Haft-Abramovich has specialized in playing middle, outside hitter, and recently started playing setter too. Haft-Abramovich and Tucker both played big roles to instate volleyball as a team sport at Rye, in addition to Gabriela Schlumberger ‘25, pushing to get surveys out and advocating for a team. 

When asked about what sparked her interest in the sport, Tucker explained how she wanted to try a new sport during Covid after being injured. Tucker’s favorite aspect of volleyball is the energy that her teammates bring, and both captains recalled that they “fell in love with the sport after the first week.” Tucker’s goals for the team and the upcoming season are for everyone to improve and connect with each other, building the RCDS volleyball program’s strength for years to come.

Despite Head Coach Edwin Medrano’s late start to the volleyball game, he remained unfazed. Medrano played for many Geva clubs, and coached high school, travel, and college teams. Medrano imparts on his players that skill, rather than height, is the defining factor of a player’s success, and he embodies this statement by taking on the challenge of playing outside hitter as his main position, in addition to playing libero. Medrano has many hopes for the varsity team, most importantly perseverance, team work, and passion. In addition to Medrano, upper school math teacher and assistant Coach Matthew Chapnick is very excited for the upcoming season.