With the 2026 senior athletes’ time dwindling to an end, eyes are fall sports records—especially the girls’ volleyball team, which put up an extraordinary season. Through their 16 regular season games, they held a record of 13-3.
Girls’ volleyball celebrated senior night on Oct. 8 with a win over Cheltenham. The seven seniors–Maddie Sachson, Natalie Linn, Mackenzie Bombas, Samantha Wigginton, Rachel King, Paisley Lauzier and Kaylie Chung–all started the game, played every position and persevered. It was an all-around impressive offensive display from the girls, with Maddie Sachson scoring multiple kills as a back-row player and Mackenzie Bombas going on a six-point serving streak. The team did not let up defensively either, keeping Cheltenham from winning a single set and securing a 3-0 win for the Hatters.
For the seniors, it was not just a celebration, but a reflection of their years of dedication and personal growth.
“The night made me feel like all my hard work had paid off. Not just from a playing perspective, but on a personal level. I pushed myself to go and was doing it for myself, now, so I could make it to this point,” said Maddie Sachson.
For someone who had struggled with standingout, Sachson always kept an optimistic outlook: “My positivity was reciprocated by the crowd. Hearing everyone cheer for me, I felt the love and appreciation for my hard work.”
This special night for the seniors led to a wave of reflection on the season, the program and ultimately, the game they love. Senior Natalie Linn said her volleyball experience was “very lively” and “high-energy.”
“Being on the team is something that I’d never take for granted,” Linn said. “[This season] is what I am proudest of. The seniors put a lot of time into talking about what we wanted from this season and how we planned to achieve it. I am very proud of just how far we have come, and it will continue into the playoffs.”
Teammate Kaylie Chung agreed. “Winning games and having the people I love around me has been amazing. Being a senior [has played] a role in it. I’m trying to enjoy my last moments in the program knowing that it’ll be over soon.”
The seniors stepped into their roles as the leaders and tried to be role models for the younger girls by trying to maintain a loving and caring atmosphere for them. “Every single girl on that team is basically my family, and their support kept me going at times,” Chung said.
Linn, too, was in agreement that being a part of the team was an invaluable part of her time in high school. “Volleyball taught me extreme dedication and commitment. We push each other to get better. That is hard to find. It is an amazing program to be a part of.”
