Volleyball Gears Up for Fall

St. John’s varsity volleyball team is gearing up for another exciting season. Senior captains Lauren Antonucci and Anika Eigen-Zucchi talked to The Sabre about developing their team chemistry and what they are looking forward to as we move into the fall.

“I’m really looking forward to playoffs this season. I feel like we have a great offense on our side, and with hard work, we’ll be able to beat the teams in our conference,” said Antonucci.

Last season, varsity made it to the quarterfinals, but lost in a tough battle with the Academy of Holy Cross. However, things might change this year. “Revenge against Holy Cross, of course,” said Antonucci. Holy Cross is the team’s biggest conference rival, and they are not easy to beat. However, with hard work, the captains believe that the team will be able to take down Holy Cross and their reigning championship.

“I love getting food before home games,” said Eigen-Zucchi. As a tradition, the whole varsity team will hop in three or four of the players’ cars and grab food as a team before each game. Popular spots include Chipotle, Panera Bread, Cava, and Sweet Green.

“I can’t wait to have our team sleepover!” said Antonucci. As another tradition, varsity has a team party or sleepover at some point during the season. “It’s a great chance for us to bond and get to know each other, which helps with the chemistry of the team. The season is more fun when we all connect with each other more than just on the court,” added Eigen-Zucchi. As a sport, volleyball requires a lot of trust and cooperation between players, so team bonding is very important.

Fortunately, the captains think that the team’s chemistry is already great. “We’re all really good friends,” said Eigen-Zucchi. Added Antonucci, “And I feel like everyone feels welcome on our team, even the freshmen.”

With a strong group of players and a close bond, St. John’s varsity volleyball is capable of taking this year’s conference title and having fun while doing it.