Week #2: There's No Place Like Home: Badgers Excel on the Hill and in the Den

Every time UCA attacked Tandem, Ethan provided excellent defense. Working closely with William and Aven, the Badgers continued to earn scoring chances. Eli communicated beautifully - reminded players where they should be on the field to be most effective. He sent the ball ahead to Seth, who found Aven for a big shot from the 18'. Tandem kept knocking on the door, as Seth sent another long pass to Otis, who beat his opponent to every ball this afternoon.  

 

With UCA in the deep corner, Levie left his crease to dive on the ball. He followed it up with a huge punt, flipping the field, as Otis shot up the right side. He passed it to Levi, who found Seamus, and gave a soft touch for an Otis shot! Moments later, Levi would notch his second goal of the contest, and the Badgers took a 4-0 lead with them to halftime.

 

In the second half, Seamus and Eli controlled the middle of the field, fighting for position and eliminating UCA chances. Jackson and Ethan were particularly strong defensively, and the only opposing goals were penalty kicks. Otherwise, it was a clean sheet for Levie, who sent the ball to Seth up the field. Seth found Levi a smooth cross - and we already know the term for that - Levi notched a hat-trick in his first home game of the season!!! Cheers to the Badgers, earning an exciting 5-2 victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd! The team will be back in action twice next week: on Thursday, the Badgers host Cristo Rey at 5:30; on Friday, the Badgers travel to Wakefield Country Day at 4:30. Hope to see you there!

 

JV Girls Volleyball - Sam absolutely mashed the first serve, setting the tone for a strong Badger performance in their home opener. Moments later, Maeve set Elle for a massive swing - and between that and Elle's free ball kill, the Badgers led 3-2 early in the first set. Grace Christian Staunton - like most people - really struggled with Emory's serve. Twice, Emory ran off five consecutive aces - just terrifying for the opponent.

 

The Badgers kept the lead going on a big hit from Oliver in the middle, set up by Maeve, and led 7-4. The passing was excellent - Makayah set up Marilyn for a spike, and Emory passed it to Sam, who tipped it over.  After a huge serve from Marilyn, the set was tied 15-15.

 

Elle gave the Badgers the lead with a formidable serve - an ace - and the team had several exciting rallies as the set approached the end. Marilyn had a big hit, giving the Badgers 21 - their highest point total (at that time) of this young season.

 

In the second set, Sam and Hadley took over. Sam had a serving run - and then Hadley launched several big hits from the middle. Tandem led 9-3 early, and after GCS went on a run of their own, Emory carried the ball to the back line. After bouncing it a few times, she fired her patented serve at the back line and they did not know what to do with it. Ace after ace, Emory tied the game up at 16.  

 

Maeve kept the momentum going with a key tip after an excellent dig from Makayah, and Hadley's huge service streak. Leading 24-21, Hadley fired a serve into the middle. GCS got under it, and hit it back hard. Emory dove to the floor, kept the ball alive, and Maeve redirected it for the deciding point! The Badgers won their first set of the season - tying the match 1-1.

 

Throughout the game, the Badgers played with a focus and intensity that kept the match close. The third set, like the first two, featured some incredible defense from Makayah, big swinging from Oliver and Hadley, and terrifying service play from Sam and Emory. The Badgers played their opponent dead even, and dropped the third set, 15-13.  As I told them after the game, they maximized every possible point and moment of the game - and they're on the board - winning their first set of the season! Well done, JV Volleyball Badgers!Massive thank you to Sophie, Annie and Emory - the big three - for doing the scoreboard and keeping statistics. Thank you!! The team returns to action next Friday at Regents at 5:00. See you there!

 

Varsity Girls Volleyball - If there's one thing I learned from the 2025 Volleyball season, it's this. If Emory has the ball behind the service line, everything is going to be fine. More on that later. After winning the coin toss, Emory made her way to the back of the gym - with an enormous crowd of rowdy Badger fans to her right. She launched a serve right into the teeth of the defense, but it bounced off their hands. Emory gave Tandem a big early lead, and she had a little help from her friends.

 

Without a trace of hesitation, Zella dove to the floor, digging out a hard hit ball. Emory took the second touch, setting Maya on the other side of the floor, and Maya did what she always does: she hit the ball so hard that the next time, the blockers kept their hands down instead. The Badgers started the first set in rhythm, but St Michael's took an 8-5 lead. That's when Aoife had an excellent pass to Emory, who returned the favor - Aoife kept her feet behind the ball and sent that smash right to the floor. The Badgers began to rally, in large part behind Sophie's service streak, and tied the game at 11.

 

Sophie had a variety of aces - the "it hit my hands so hard I didn't know how to return it," and the "I thought that was going out of bounds but it was perfectly placed." After a beautiful dig from Claire, a defensive wizard, the team took a 12-11 lead. After another impressive set from Emory - across the court to Maya - Emory returned to the service line. Six points later, SMAA called timeout, as Tandem led 17-13. With Maya targeting the back line, Tandem went on to take the first set easily 25-17.

 

Stop me if you've heard this before, but the second set featured another set of spinning, slicing, lightning quick serves from Emory, and the team took an early lead. She wasn't the only one literally serving up a storm - Althea's thunderous power provided several aces (her serve is so much improved!!) and the Badgers were in cruise control. Claire highlighted an exciting rally by diving - essentially into the crowd - and saving an impossible hit. She managed to direct the ball right to Sophie - and she crushed it right down the line.

 

With chants of "let's go Tandem," from our enthusiastic student section, Sophie served the spirit right out of the opponent - taking a 13-10 lead. After that, Maya got going - her diagonal smashes went around the hands of the blockers (who, like me, were thankful the ball didn't hit them) and if there were a target in the corners of the floor - Maya would hit it every time (she does it all the time in practice). The Badgers led 22-15 - with Maya amassing six kills in a row - before Althea had a big hit from the middle - she is the ultimate middle hitter - and Tandem won the 2nd set 25-18.

 

With a 2-0 lead, Ella had a serious smash in the middle. She and Aoife were on their game - and their teammates were loving it. SMAA fought to stay in the game, and it wasn't easy. Trailing 18-15, Maya had a vicious hit and then several aces. The game was tied, and Ginger had an awesome tip in the middle, but SMAA pulled away and took the third set 25-21.

 

With a lot of math homework to do, Zella decided to take matters into her own hands. She wrapped it up: incredible defense, multiple aces, and several great passes to Aoife who is improving at a rapid pace. Zella set Aoife and then Maya, who hit it thunderously through the blockers, and the Badgers took a 22-9 lead before closing out the match with a 25-11 fourth set to claim victory, 25-11, 3-1!

 

Congratulations to our Badgers on a huge week - a super long Saturday tournament, Tuesday on the road at Monticello, and a big win in their home opener against a tough SMAA team! The Varsity team will not practice tomorrow. The Badgers are back in game action next Friday at Regents at 6pm, following the JV Game. Huge thank you to Victoria, Elle and Elisabeth, who ran the scoreboard and kept statistics late into the night. Couldn't have done it without you! Thank you so much!