Greenhill Middle School volleyball saw major growth this season, according to Coach Monica Stephens.  

The school fields two teams – Green and Gold – made up of both seventh and eighth graders. Team placement is determined by skill level, with the Gold team serving as the more advanced squad.  

A total of 43 girls tried out at the beginning of the school year. Over five days of drills, coaches evaluated players for coachability and overall skill. After cuts, only 28 players remained on the team. 

One of Stephens’ goals for the season was to introduce the same terminology used by the varsity program, helping the younger athletes understand expectations as they advance. 

Stephens said the season began with challenges as players struggled with coordination and ball control. Practices focused on addressing those weaknesses through targeted drills and building consistent habits.  

Through the first four games, the Gold team posted a 2-2 record, including a loss to rival Hockaday. Stephens said that defeat motivated the group and led to more intense practices. 

Stephens said she watched the Hockaday match closely to see what went wrong.  

“You have to feel comfortable with feeling super uncomfortable,” said Stephens. 

In the weeks that followed, the team adjusted and showed improvement. On Sept. 25, the Gold team defeated Hockaday 25-15 in the final set, marking their first win against them this season. 

Stephens said the victory demonstrated the progress the players had made. 

“Because we made adjustments as a team and thought things through better, we beat them,” Stephens said. 

The Gold team finished with a 15-4 record. As the eighth graders prepare to move onto the Upper School Program next year, Stephens is already looking ahead.