Varsity Volleyball: Season Outlook

The 2021 season proved to be a historic one for St. Luke’s volleyball, as the Storm won the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class C championship for the first time in the program's history.

 

Head Coach Garrett Minyard, who guided the team to that remarkable victory, is excited for another season of competition. Minyard returns for his fifth year with the Storm and expects this year’s squad to challenge for honors again: “After winning the title last season, I commented that winning a championship is no longer just an idea, it is an expectation. This team understands and welcomes that high expectation. They show it every day in practice. We have had some of the best practices in my SLS coaching career this season. The team’s hard work paid off when we beat a very good Greenwich Academy team in five sets on the road.”

 

St. Luke’s volleyball rebounded after losing its opening two contests with a hard-fought win against the Gators on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Minyard believes that victory will kick-start the team’s season: “Starting the season 0-2 was not what we wanted, but we took a huge stride when we beat GA and proved to ourselves that the Storm is still surging. We are just getting started.”

 

The Storm has a good blend of youth and experience, and Minyard is excited by what he has seen from his group so far. “This year’s team is young and hungry, with three freshmen and two sophomores on the roster. Returning varsity players Catalina Hendricks ’23, Samantha Stevelman ’23, Sophie Dekker ’23, Olivia Lee ’24, and Kiara Copeland ’26 have been wonderful guides for the new players and will continue to have a large hand in the team’s success. That success will be predicated on well-rounded, full-team performances and the players’ indomitable spirit.”

 

The Storm continues with back-to-back home games on Friday, Sept. 30, against Holy Child, and Saturday, Oct. 1, against Canterbury School. Minyard expects two tough games but believes his squad is ready: “Moving up to Class B presents a new challenge. After winning the NEPSAC Class C Championship in 2022, our program is now facing a higher level of competition as we play against larger and more experienced programs. The FAA continues to be a super competitive league with multiple teams in contention to go all the way. I don’t see any clear favorites. FAA league play is always the most competitive section of our schedule, which is good preparation for our NEPSAC matches.”