Bump, set, spike – three words that you might have heard while watching social media like TikTok, but what do these words represent? 

These are all terms that are used in the sport of volleyball.  The word ‘bump’ is used when describing a basic pass, which is used with the forearm. The word ‘set’ in volleyball means to use an overhead, two-handed contact to direct the ball to a teammate, while the word ‘spike’ means to hit it forcefully over the net to the opponent’s side with the intent of scoring a point. 

Volleyball is a sport requiring agility, quick movement and great coaching. These attacks must be taught with practice, drills, and different warmups. 

Alyssa Doyle, who plays a middle position on the team,  explained that on a typical practice the freshman team warms up, does hitting lines, scrimmages, and the butterfly drill, a drill in which one person serves over the net and another person bumps the ball.

The new freshman volleyball coach, NPMS English teacher Ms. Iosso did not grow up playing volleyball in high school, but she is now taking on a team full of freshman girls.

Eleanor Mazza, who is a right side while playing on the court, said:  “Coach Iosso has good team spirit and she has never raised her voice at us.”

The roster for this year’s team is Alyssa Doyle, Audrey Carovillano, Caroline Leonard, Eleanor Mazza, Elin Stoll, Lucy Lagana, Molly Lagana, Morgan Cavanagh, Raegan Glibowski, Riley Glibowski, Rose Travia, Samantha Howell, Sophia Viera, Violet Chen, Annabelle Suh, Reisa Mukerjee, and Violetta Ermakora. Despite early challenges, the team’s passion and effort will help them continue to strive through the end of their season.