Volleyball season ends on high notes: Island team grew in ‘skill and closeness’

“How is the volleyball team doing this year?” 

I love hearing this question as I stroll through the IGA, pick up the mail or am out for a walk. Since the middle of August I’ve been in the gym five to six nights a week, at practice or attending games. I spend a lot of time analyzing stats, looking at game film from our home matches, and thinking about what drills might tweak a skill just a bit more.

On Friday, Oct. 16, the 2026 season came to an end. There is always a sense of loss. The team has spent so much time together on the court or traveling to and from matches, and we have grown in both skill and closeness.

In the week of Oct. 12, we played our final games against Pierson and Greenport/Southold. Once again I was struck by how much the team has learned in the past two months. In the first Pierson match our serve receive was weak, and our serving inconsistent. Despite the fact that sickness was going around the school, and we ended up with four missing players, this time we were much more polished and the serving was strong.

Greenport/Southold is a strong team headed to the playoffs. They played extremely well in their final game of the season. In our first meeting in September, they were dominant and the Islanders had a tough time on serve receive and defense. This time they still won handily, but each point was hotly contested. The score did not reflect the intensity of the play. Islander digs and blocks challenged their hitters. Tough Island serves tested the Porter receivers. It was awesome to see our athletes’ never-say-die attitude. 

I will miss each player on this 2026 roster for many reasons. Juliana Medina and Sadie Green-Clark were our senior captains. Medina’s serving was aces, literally, and she stood out as someone who could direct the court and be an on-court coach. Green-Clark was the other dominant left-side hitter. She also had terrific serves, and her warm and kind personality made it easy for the younger players to come to her for advice.

There were seven juniors on the team, most of whom were playing varsity for the first time. Lexi Bartilucci is a super hard worker. She is our libero and unsung hero — the specialized defensive player who dug up countless balls. Her excellent mechanics allowed me to use her as a demonstration player often. She also stepped in to set on numerous occasions.

Lily Potter joined Bartilucci as a returning varsity player. A dual cross country athlete, her boundless optimism and positivity was accentuated by her unselfish play. Her excellent teammate relations, along with hitting and blocking skills, made her a team leader. Natalie Mamisashvili, while still a basketball player at heart, discovered the fun of volleyball this season. A hitter and blocker, she loved prowling the net and blocking or hitting down overpasses.

Maeve Springer was one of four golf dual athletes. With golf as her primary sport, she wasn’t able to devote her full energies to volleyball until the last few weeks of the season. However, during that time she discovered her jump serve and her valuable ability to step in at nearly every position.

Lily Brigham was one of our most improved players this season. A defensive specialist, she developed an aggressive attitude in getting to the ball and passing confidently. Like Brigham, Makayla Cronin also greatly improved her defense. However, she also was able to play in the front row as a hitter, making her a versatile player. 

Danielle Rasmussen rejoined the volleyball team after two years off from the sport. She worked hard at all aspects of her game and had one of the best attendance records on the team.

Five sophomores also contributed a great deal to the team. Elizabeth Weslek has a terrific serve, very nice hands and a good aggressive swing while hitting. A well-rounded athlete with a competitive spirit, she thrived on the varsity court. Ella Fundora is a pure setter. She hustles after wayward balls, puts the set up for hitters and also uses tips to keep the opponent’s defense on their toes. Her kind words for teammates were also appreciated.

Emily Shepherd continued to improve throughout the season. A tall player, she has developed a very consistent serve and nice hands.

Michelle Martinez took a year off from the sport, but came back with a quiet but reliable presence on the court. I loved seeing her smile when she contributed to a point. During her first year on varsity, Regina Kolmogorova-Weisenberg has grown a good deal as a blocker and has a very nice serve. She also has a commitment to hard work — even suggesting burpees for missed plays!

Lida Kendall-Posner is a 9th-grader, and relatively new to team sports. But her hustle and genuinely positive attitude was wonderful. Eager to learn, she faced some difficult situations with poise.

On Friday, Oct. 16, we celebrated the end of the season with a pizza and salad party. The team had been given a “secret teammate” assignment. Each player had to write two compliments to another athlete: What they appreciated about them volleyball-wise and what they liked about them in life — not volleyball related. Since the team was a blend of 9th -12th graders, there were students that barely knew one another before the season who had come to appreciate many things about one another. The answers were sweet to read and a great way to cap the season. 

This year we had tried some new things. We held a media day where individual and team photos were taken. Some serious, some fierce, some silly. We played in two tournaments, which is an amazing way to have fun and learn things. We got our first set win since 2024. We raised $500 at the Dig Pink match to donate to breast cancer research. 

The Islanders have a few weeks off before winter sports start. Every volleyball player is continuing her athletic career in the colder months, trading knee pads for basketball, cheer and winter track gear. 

I’ll be there to cheer them on, reporter’s pen and pad in hand, asking the coach “How is the team doing?”