The Cambridge Rindge and Latin girls’ volleyball team entered this season with little doubt that this year’s squad would have more success than last year’s. Recognizing that the team had more experience and sharper skills, coach Jordan Roldan and the players were brimming with confidence.
They have not been disappointed. At 6-2 entering play on Thursday, this year’s team has already exceeded last year’s 5-13 team in wins and is currently ranked 12th in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings. It’s their highest ranking since the MIAA began issuing the rankings in 2021.
“I expected this,” said Roldan. “I was confident in my leaders, I was confident in the offseason work they put into it.”
Players such as senior Noah Beyer, senior Talia Livny and junior Bianca Etkin honed skills such as passing, setting and digging by playing on club teams, participating in open gym practices, and attending clinics. But better skills at the individual level didn’t guarantee success. The players needed to bring it all together as a team.
To help build that chemistry, the team organized a dinner after the first practice of the season. “It was the first team bonding we did,” said Beyer, the team leader in kills. “It was a very big and open thing and everyone was talking to each other. It was like building a family because that’s essentially what this team is at the end of the day. It’s just one big family.”
The meal has set the tone so far for the season, creating what the players said is an uplifting, supportive culture. “If someone has a bad play, there’s no negativity about that,” said Etkin, the team leader in blocks. “Nobody’s making them feel bad and we’re able to uplift each other more and just move on and, like, go on to the next point. We’ve been down by a lot of points and had really big comebacks and that’s because we feel so close this year.”
Just last week against Lexington, the Falcons translated their positive energy into on-court results. Down 14-3 in the third set, the Falcons began chipping away at the deficit, but needed a jolt. Junior Makenzie Chiumiento came off the bench to serve for Etkin, and sparked a rally of six straight points. Cambridge won the set, 25-21, to take a 2-1 lead in the match, which they won 3-1.
“You could just see how happy everyone was for her and how much energy she was bringing to the court,” said Etkin. “Even though we were still down by quite a bit, it showed the positive energy that we can have because we’re so connected this year.”
This closeness has fostered a spirit of trust and cultivated confidence in one another. “I can trust that the other passer can cover their side of the court,” said junior Ellie Su, the team leader in digs. “I know I don’t need to go all the way across the court. I can trust that someone’s gonna be there. I don’t need to put pressure on myself to think that I need to get every single ball in the back row. I understand that the middle back is there, and she’s experienced enough, and has the game knowledge to get to the ball.”
The players believe their camaraderie will help them sustain their success through the rest of the season.
“The vibes have just been extraordinary,” said Beyer. “Everyone is very happy with our record right now. Obviously, we’re still gonna keep pushing forward and play the best we possibly can. We’re still growing as a team.”
The team visits Lincoln-Sudbury Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
A stronger
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