List of 5 news stories.

• Week #7 - A Legendary Double Header: Tandem Volleyball Gives Monticello a Match They'll Never Forget

  9/29/2026
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  Girls Varsity Volleyball - "The Varsity Volleyball team has a home game - today - against Monticello. Last year we took one set off of them, and this year we're going to take two!" It was August of 2024, and Chloe, the Senior Captain, implored the Tandem community to come out and support the team. The odds of winning any sets at all were incredibly low - Monticello has 11 times the number of students - but we did win two sets that day. They made us work for it - Maya - then a sophomore - did her best superhero impression as she dove as if she were going into a swimming pool in front of the Tandem bench. It was the most epic volleyball moment I have ever seen. With a pancake save, and a 25-24 lead in the fourth set, Maya flicked the ball back over the net, sending the game into a 5th set.

   

  We were scheduled to play Monticello a second time that season, but they cancelled the rematch, fearful that they might struggle against the little school from across the street on their home court. We'll never know what the outcome would have been, but I have an idea. This season we took on Monticello early in the season - on the road - and it was quite a battle. The Badgers took the second set, and while we lost 3-1, Tandem scored at least twenty points in all four sets. The stage was set for a rematch - this time in the Badger Den.
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• Week #7 - Breakout Peformances Pace the Varsity Cross Country Badgers at the VTCA Invitational

  9/29/2026
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  Boys Varsity Cross Country - In the opening scene of the 1998 film "Without Limits," college scouts were hoping to get a glimpse of American legend Steve Prefontaine at the Oregon High School State Cross Country Championships. The recruiters ask a very reasonable question - "How am I supposed to pick him out of, what have you got here, 200 runners?" Prefontaine's High School coach offers a confident response: "you'll see him." Pre was hard to miss - far ahead of the field - not unlike a certain undefeated runner I know from a delightful little place called Tandem Friends.

   

  For the fourth consecutive meet, Hayes left his competition in the dust. The closest pack, including a talented runner from South County, was about ten seconds back with a 1000 meters to go - but 27 when Hayes crossed the line. With only the cart to chase, Hayes continues to put together a magical season - 1st Place - 15:45 - and still has both modest and serious aspirations to run faster and compete against even better competition. "There aren't many people that can run with you," Jason remarked, "you are the 5th fastest runner in Virginia." The other four will all be there at the Virginia Showcase on October 17 - and you should be, too.
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• Week #7 - Tandem Varsity Soccer Rallies in the Second Half, JV Volleyball Plays Tough on The Road

  9/29/2026
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  Boys Varsity Soccer - The last few weeks have been an adventure for the Tandem Boys Varsity Soccer team - we lost a week of play to an immense heat wave, had a game cancelled because of rain and another cancelled because of a storm - after they already traveled an hour and a half! Regardless, the Badgers showed off beautiful passing to start the game, like poetry in motion. On one occasion, Aven, Shaan, Levi, Seth and Van each touched the ball, clearly the result of a lot of hard work in practice. Levie dove to break up scoring opportunities in goal, and Seth earned a throw in just outside the 18. He sent the ball into Aven, who found Levi on the goal line. Levi crossed it behind the goalie, sending to Seth who found Van for a powerful shot! The goalie got a hand on it, but Van was just too strong, and the Badgers scored first. Levie was absolutely magnificent today - he pushed some high shots over the goal, dove for loose balls in the box, and had two saves that should find their way onto ESPN!

   

  After a WCDS response, Luke was fabulous defensively and reset the offense by sending the ball to William. He pushed it ahead to Levi, who found Seth before returning it to the talented freshman. Levi drilled the ball into the box, where Seamus pushed his way through traffic and gave Tandem a 2-1 lead. The Badgers benefited from the speed of Cord and Eli on the outside, helping to flip the field.

   
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• Week #6 - Dominant Victory: Varsity Volleyball Wins in Straight Sets

  9/24/2026
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  Girls Varsity Volleyball - Maya's first kill was a powerful cross court hit to the back right corner - her favorite spot - perfectly placed just inside the line. Immediately, WCDS changed their formation - moving all of their players back and to the right. After a short rally, Emory set Maya on the outside, and she showed off her finesse, tipping the ball into the open space in the middle of the court. No matter what strategy the opponent employed, the reality was the same - the most talented player on the court was wearing green - and she was relentless. In the first set alone, Maya had six 6 aces, 6 kills, and 4 assists - leaving her mark on every moment of the game. 

   

  WCDS won the toss and served first - right to Zella - who made a perfect pass to Emory. She set Maya for the aforementioned smash and then carried the ball to the service line for a sequence of aces. From there, Tandem took an early 6-0 lead. After a short WCDS run, the Badgers front line each showed off their hitting ability. First, Maya literally knocked over the opposing libero. On the next point, she set up Aoife - who has improved dramatically since August and mashed the ball directly into the ground. It didn't stop there.
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• Week #5: JV Volleyball Badgers Make History in Exciting Friday Double Header

  9/15/2026
  Dave Levy, Athletic Director
  JV Girls Volleyball - Over the course of the last seven seasons, the JV Girls Volleyball team has played nearly 100 matches. While the Badgers have won many of those matches, the team has never done it in straight sets. In the final match of the 2025 season, despite losing to them earlier in the year, the Badgers defeated Miller 2-1 on the road. Last Friday, the team pulled off an incredible 2-1 victory on the road at Regents, with Emory dominating the third set at the service line. Tonight, Tandem unlocked another level entirely - winning in straight sets - with all twelve players contributing to a historic victory - an unprecedented level of success.

   

  It should be noted that in order for a Volleyball program to have a JV team that is capable of winning in straight sets, there needs to be an excellent volleyball culture. As you're walking around the Tandem campus, at any moment, there is likely to be a ball in the air - students passing the ball around on the quad, the graduation lawn and you certainly cannot pull them out of the gym. There are over 40 student-athletes playing volleyball this season, and that didn't just happen. Just yesterday, we saw Seniors invite JV players to Varsity Practice, and JV Players help out at Middle School practice. It was nearly 8:00 last night when the last volleyball player, begrudgingly, left the gym.
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