The South Windsor girls volleyball team faced off against the Tolland Eagles on October 10, 2025 at 5 pm and grabbed the victory, winning 3-0.
The night was special because head coach Ryan Minster-Woodcock wanted to honor his seniors by dedicating a night to them. The gym was decorated for the seniors when they walked in, which is a girls volleyball tradition. There were posters surrounding the gym, which highlighted each senior along with many balloons and streamers that were bobcat color coded.
“Seeing the gym all decorated with the people around me made me feel so supported and made me realize what playing volleyball was all about,” senior setter Mariam Hamadi said.
The underclassman also wanted this to be special. “Setting up for senior night was really special and fun, we wanted everything to look perfect for the seniors,” junior outside Keira Botticello said.
The game, dedicated to the seniors, provided the vital motivation needed to accomplish a decisive three-set victory over Tolland, winning the match 3-0.
Starting off the first set, Hamadi served to get the 3-1 head start, with senior Ioana Luangpraseuth getting a kill to make a statement.
To follow this up, Luangpraseuth went on a serving run to make the score 8-3. To keep pursuing this strong lead senior captain London Bascomb served an ace, making the score 14-5. To finish the set Junior, Hasini Bobba got a kill to help the Bobcats come out on top with a score of 25-12 to end the first set.
The Bobcats carried this momentum into the second set starting off with a 6-3 serving run by Luangpraseuth, pushing to win.
Then with a score of 16-10 senior ds—a backrow defensive position in volleyball—Samiksha Maheswaran served an ace to pull the Bobcats to a bigger lead. Then at game point, senior middle block Mallory Mead had a stuff block to win the second set 25-14.
The third set devolved into a fierce battle, with the lead constantly changing hands. Early in the frame, Bascomb asserted the team’s presence, smashing a powerful kill to push the score to 4-3 and set an aggressive tone for the fight ahead. Then with the score at 9-8, Luangpraseuth got a kill, pulling the score to a 2 point lead. Later on Mead got a game changing kill to put the score at 17-15, giving the Bobcats momentum to finish out this last set strong. On game point, the Eagles missed their serve into the net, leading to the Bobcats winning the game and having a victory on senior night.
“This was the last we will play together on the court from freshman to senior year; it was bitter sweet,” Luangpraseuth said after the game.
This was not just bittersweet for the players, it was also bittersweet for the coaches who watched these girls grow.
“Watching the girls I once coached grow into seniors is one of the most rewarding and emotional parts of coaching,” coach Makenzie Eppler said. “I’ve had the privilege of seeing them grow not only as athletes but as people. They have become stronger, more confident, and ready to take on the world. It’s bittersweet, knowing our time together is coming to an end, but I couldn’t be prouder of who they’ve become and the legacy they’re leaving behind.”
The girls were thrilled to be able to showcase their skills and also receive recognition for their time at this program.
“It feels weird to be a senior because it feels like a new life is beginning,” senior middle blocker Makayla McGrath said. “I feel excited to continue my journey into something new.”
The girls next game is away against East Catholic on October 17, 2025 at 5pm. The girls will work hard to keep this winning momentum into the next game.
