Girls volleyball is one of many sports opportunities offered to the students of Cardinal
Newman. With the addition of the new freshman class, the number of girls participating in the tryout process increased significantly. Our school’s girls volleyball program provides three teams: varsity, junior varsity, and freshman. While the varsity and JV teams are extremely important to the school’s athletic department, the freshman team proves to be an important step in adjusting to a new environment that some may overlook.
On August 5th, 2024, tryouts were held in the school gymnasium for both JV and freshman teams, spanning all the way until September 7th. Summer tryouts proved to be very helpful for when school started, as many girls entered the first day feeling comfortable and familiar to the environment due to making friends while playing and displaying their skills to coaches in the summertime. When asked if playing on the freshman volleyball team has made the middle school to high school transition easier, Gianna Deanne shared, “Playing volleyball while going into high school has helped me make more friends and get to know people.”
In addition, playing on the freshman volleyball team puts less stress on the girls as opposed to playing on the varsity or JV teams. All the players on this team are the same age and around the same level of skill, so everybody learns and grows together. Specifically, Sofie Osorio explained, “I think I would feel more pressure playing on the varsity or JV teams because you’re playing with older people and the attention is on you since you’re younger.” Sophia Kattoura also expressed her feelings by saying, “I think scheduling during the start of the year would be difficult and more busy on a higher team. During freshman year I’m just trying to figure everything out.”

This year, a new coach has been introduced into Cardinal Newman’s girls volleyball community. Stephanie Rivera was also welcomed into the school community as a Spanish teacher for Spanish I and Spanish I Honors. After being asked if she feels like she’s in the same position as the freshman girls among the pre-existing teachers and coaches at Newman, Ms. Rivera stated, “Yes. This is my first year here at Cardinal Newman, so I am going through a lot of similar situations like meeting new people. I am not new to coaching though, and most of our team is not new to the sport, so we are all kind of in the same boat and I can relate because I was once a player and freshman, and especially because I am teaching Spanish to freshmen. I love that I am involved in all of the aspects.”
All of the freshman girls are hopeful for the outcome of the season and every one of us can see a bright future ahead. Here are a few extra words from our players and coach:
Coach Rivera: ”I am hopeful for the outcome of the season because I feel like everything that we go through happens for a reason and God has a reason for us as both individuals and as a team. Everything that we do is to learn for the next step.”
Gianna Deanne: “We’re going to do great!”
Sophia Kattoura: “I think we work well together and everything is going great for us. We are also improving as the season continues.”
Sofie Osorio: “On the first day of playing together, the girls had a great connection with each other and I feel like the relationships you make in volleyball are friendships that are going to last throughout the four years of highschool, because you’re all going to grow together. Our team has a special bond even if we dont see each other as often as the higher teams do.”