This Week in Sports - Week #10

Dave Levy, Athletic Director
It was an incredible week for Tandem Athletics! The Varsity Soccer season ended on the road with an exciting 5-4 battle at Fishburne. Congratulations to the team on a great season! We celebrated Aiden, our lone senior, with a MS/US Scrimmage on Thursday. Volleyball has continued their hot stretch, winning 5 in a row - they won 3-1 over Miller on Thursday - an awesome way to celebrate Senior Night! The GPAC Playoffs are next week - Volleyball hosts at home on Tuesday and Cross Country will host at Darden Towe on Wednesday. Hope to see you there!

Varsity Volleyball Senior Night Game is One to Remember - 10/25/24
It is rare to be in the presence of true greatness, so when you are, it is important to acknowledge how special the circumstances are. Tonight, on Senior Night, Tandem spirit and pride was at an all time high. The Badger Dome was as loud as it's ever been. The student section, in full black out attire, did not sit down for one minute - screaming at full throttle and cheering with all their might.  Tandem Families were on the edge of their seats, supporting the Badgers during every serve, rally or kill. Above the bench, six beautiful posters, illustrated by the sophomores and juniors, hung as a tribute to our extraordinary senior class. The class of 2025 has been tremendous throughout their entire Tandem career. Tonight, in their final regular season game on their home floor, they rose to the occasion - shining a light that reflected back in all of us. See the volleyball program honoring our seniors here. Read more about this game and other games this week below.
Lili had not played in a game yet this season, but that doesn't mean she has not been hard at work.  Everyday she has come to practice and focused, doing stationary hitting or serving drills. Today began her official comeback - and the rest of the league had better take notice.  She opened the match with a kill the first time the ball touched her hands, a tribute to her work ethic and the fervor she brings to this team.  
 
The first set was like poetry in motion.  Maggie showed off her versatility, delivering a big hit from the back line.  With Miller leading 4-3, Sofia set Chloe on the left side for a big hit... and you know the rest.  The first of her fifteen kills throughout the match, Chloe hit the ball so hard that her opponent had no time to react.  Then it was time for Tessa to serve. She ran off three points in a row, Tandem took the lead 8-5, and Miller called timeout.
 
Typically, a volleyball timeout is called to change the momentum of the game. When a server is on a hot streak, the opposing coach will call timeout to take the player out of their rhythm. This technique might have impacted another player. But Tessa? Not so much. Tessa was not shaken. She was not amused. She returned to her safety serve, a powerful ace. On her next serve, she tossed the ball high in the air and hit it so hard that it shook the entire gym! Her service run lasted 11 points, a theme that was a true thorn in the side of the opponent. 
 
While Tessa was on the service line, Miller called timeout FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. The ultimate sign of respect, they were hoping, praying that maybe, just maybe, a timeout would change the inevitable outcome. It did not. Tessa had service streaks this evening of EIGHT, ELEVEN AND SIXTEEN consecutive points - including ace after ace - to the back line, just slightly over the net, or so hard at an opponent that they ran away in fear.
 
When it was time for Lili's first serve, well, it was an ace. Chloe followed that up with a violent kill down the left line, and then Sofia had a beautiful over backwards set for Maggie who hit it right down the middle! Leading 16-7, Golden entered the game and had a critical dig, setting up Chloe's fourth and fifth kills of the first set.  The Badgers sealed the opening stanza  with a massive spike from Maggie, a big time block from Lili (did I mention that she's back?) and of course, a Sofia-style ace.  By a score of 25-13, Tandem took the opening set with ease. 
 
Tandem led much of the second set as well. Sofia picked up right where she left off with an ace off her serve and a set for Lili to smash the ball right down the middle. Tessa was terrific on the back line, passing the ball to Sofia who set Chloe - twice - for hits that were "inspirational," as Coach Kiwii calls them. Maggie came through with a huge hit from the middle and Mary another from the outside.  Tandem led 14-9.
 
Tessa then went to the service line and had another one of her massive streaks, forcing an ineffective timeout from Miller. Tessa did one safety serve coming out of the timeout, then went back to her vicious jump serve that is unreturnable. The Badgers led 24-21 before Miller added five points to take the 2nd set and tie the game 1-1.
 
Lili opened the third set with another slam - she was all over the court in the midst of some lengthy rallies. The Badgers showed great hustle, diving on the floor. "Reset," shouted Coach Kiwii, and when Tessa got to the service line (she always gets the team rolling) she reeled off 16 straight points (6 aces) and the match turned on a dime. On the rare occasion that Miller got a hand on one of Tessa's serves, Chloe would destroy the ball for a kill or Mary would deliver a cross court hit. During her service streak, Miller called TWO TIMEOUTS to try to break Tessa's rhythm. If you've had the pleasure of meeting Tessa, you know she just simply cannot be broken.  Tandem led 18-4 when she was finished serving, and eventually won the third set 25-8. Chloe had a massive kill, Mary had a serve that had a home court roll right over the net, and Maggie had a block (her fifth of the match) as Tandem took the lead 2-1.
 
Tonight, Tessa simply broke the will of her opponent. Five timeouts! Seriously, have you ever heard of anything like that? She opened the fourth set with two aggressive hits, the kind that might be in a trailer for a volleyball movie. The Badgers were really swinging (thanks to Sofia's beautiful assists) as Chloe wound up and slammed one down the line and then another down the middle. Oh, and then a third right at the blockers - I'm pretty sure it just went through them.
 
With the Badgers trailing 10-12, Maggie delivered one of her run stopping aces. The score went back and forth before it was Tessa's turn to serve. We all turned our heads to the Miller bench, where they were pleading for a timeout with fear in their eyes. Tessa delivered with another sequence of magical serves and Chloe gave us yet another kill as the Badgers approached the 25 point mark.
 
Golden had a terrific serve, and Miller returned it just over the net... Maggie slammed it to the ground to an enormous roar from the Tandem crowd!  She followed that up with a second big hit!  The final point featured a bit of a rally. Chloe called for it, Sofia set her, and Chloe slammed the ball over the net with a fury. Miller got under it, hit it back, and Tessa had her zillionth dig of the set - it was a perfect pass to Sofia, who set Chloe again.  Just as she has done a million times, dating back to her fifth grade season, Chloe planted her foot, elevated into the air and swung with the kind of power typically reserved for the college level.
 
None of us had to watch Chloe's final volleyball hit the ground.  Just like Tessa's wicked serves, Maggie's blocks, Mary's cross court slams, Sofia's perfect sets (and sneaky hits as well), Golden's digs, or Lili's aces, we knew it was destined for the floor.  There are not many times in your life when you get to be in the presence of greatness - but this class - this team - is truly special.  You could feel it in the sentiments of Coach Kiwii, Seth, Lola, Elizabeth, Maya, Zella and Beatrice at our ceremony tonight. 
 
I am enormously proud of this team. What a game. What a season. True greatness.
 
The Badgers are not done yet. We wrap up the regular season at Highland on Monday at 4:00. Lili WILL be there!
 
Then, on Tuesday, we host the GPAC Quarterfinals, most likely at 4:30.
On Wednesday, we host the GPAC Semifinals, most likely at 5:00.
Then, on Friday, we'll travel to Highland for the GPAC Finals at 4:00.
 
Congratulations, Badgers. It is so special to be in the presence of true greatness. 

JV Badgers Save Their Best for Last! - 10/22/24
Back in August, the JV Volleyball Badgers took on Monticello - a tall task - especially considering the difference in student enrollment (approximately 1,000 students). Regardless, Tandem showed no fear as they began their competitive journey that day - and they have improved every day since. In their very first game, the team played two sets, scoring sixteen total points.  This afternoon, Tandem went on the road - and smashed the ball to the tune of 32 points!!! That is DOUBLE their output from the beginning of the season!!!

Without a doubt, the 2024 season has been an incredible success for this extraordinary group of volleyball players. No matter the situation, the team has given it their all - in both practice and in games.  Tonight was a tribute to all of their hard work - diving on the floor, chasing down a three ball or perfecting their serve technique.  
 
Althea opened the scoring with a huge overhand serve, smashed right into the corner and out of reach.  Tandem was up early, and kept the momentum while Talia's dig found it's way to the floor.  The game was tied 2-2 when Maeve passed the ball to Taylor who set Talia for a big hit.  It went back and forth in the opening set. Just as Monticello thought they could pull away, Victoria responded with a return for a point, Maeve whacked an overhand ace (the serving today was incredible!) and Talia ran off four consecutive points with a few hard hit aces of her own! Tandem led 10-7, and Monticello called timeout!  Althea provided some quality hitting down the stretch of the first set, and Kaylee had a beautiful serve for an ace, and the Badgers came away with sixteen points.
 
The team was down 3-4 in the second set when Emory took the ball to the service line. Her first serve was an underhand beauty - and then a voice in her head reminded her of what we already know: Emory's overhand serve is absolutely vicious.  From then on, Emory obliterated the ball, sending it over the net with force directly at opposing players, who put their hands up in front of their faces just to protect their bodies.  Wouldn't you do the same? The ball deflected in all directions, ace after ace, as Emory gave Tandem a massive boost - and a big lead! Ahead 9-4, Monticello called a timeout!  
 
Claire got under every ball tonight, digging out the most tricky serves, and passing them to Bella, Ella and Cora. Catriona picked up where she left off from the last match, and Ginger set up Ellia for a big hit down the middle. Additionally, Ellia's overhand serve was also on point tonight - resulting in a key point for Tandem.  The Badgers led 11-10 when Claire had a big hit down the middle, and later kept the momentum going with Althea's smooth push shot over the opposing blockers.  Ella provided Tandem with an ace as well - on another overhand serve - very powerful! Tandem scored 16 points in the second set as well!
 
Congratulations to the Badgers - this team improved dramatically this season! Their overhand serves were an indication of their new found confidence - like powerful laser beams - a skill this team has built over the course of the last three months. They are unrecognizable from that August bunch - lots of hard work at practice, some exciting games and lots of bonding has made this an incredible experience for all involved.
 
I am incredibly grateful to the leadership of Coach Elize - she is an amazing teacher of the game all while remaining calm, thoughtful and putting every player in a position to be successful.  Thank you so much! Coach Emily stepped up big time this season - coaching volleyball for the first time and she did an amazing job!  Every time I came into the gym, Emily was in action - taking stats or in the drill - making it a great experience for our players.  Seth and Otis did a fabulous job keeping the book - they are the best team managers anybody could ask for. Thank you also to Coaches Kiwii and Maleigha for the work you all did together way back during preseason.  And of course, thank you to the families, who made tonight's game feel like a home game. At our actual home games, well, the parents have been incredibly vocal and supportive - and provided yummy snacks.
 
Congratulations, Badgers. We are all very proud of you. No Seniors in this crew: this is just the beginning of your Volleyball journey. While it's the end of the season, keep working on your game and we'll see you in the Badger den in 2025!  
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Tandem Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for grades 5-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
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