This past Friday, Alden High School’s Athletic Association hosted its inaugural volleyball tournament, bringing together students and teachers for a night of excitement, competition, and camaraderie. With nine student teams and three teacher teams participating, the event was a huge success and showcased the best of AHS’s spirit.
The idea for the tournament began last year after the Athletic Association surveyed faculty and staff about potential events. Volleyball emerged as a popular choice, and Alden athlete Camryn Speranza, who plays club volleyball and is also a soccer player, turned this idea into reality. “I wanted to do a volleyball tournament because we have things like Powder Puff and the badminton tournament, but I felt we needed something else that included both teachers and students,” Camryn explained. “A lot of people love volleyball, and since there’s no boys’ volleyball team here, this gives them a chance to show how good they are at it.”
The tournament raised funds for a scholarship awarded to two senior athletes, one male and one female, chosen by their coaches at the end of the year. Teams faced off in elimination brackets, with one team progressing and the other joining the loser bracket, culminating in an intense championship match.
The final game was a nail-biter, featuring The Block Party and Getting Diggy With It. After battling their way through the bracket, The Block Party emerged victorious. The winning team included Camryn Speranza, Liam Shaver, Josh Klinski, Kaylen Jaworowicz, Cadence Allen, and Jill Uhrich.
The team attributed their success to dedication and teamwork. “We went to every practice, locked in, and made it count,” they shared. “Practice makes perfect.” Energy and music also played a big role in keeping spirits high during the games.
In addition to the championship, awards were given to The Shell Shockers for Best Dressed Team and Diggs R Us as the Winning Teacher Team.
With such a strong turnout and enthusiastic participation, the Athletic Association hopes to make the volleyball tournament an annual tradition. Congratulations to all the teams for making the first volleyball tournament a smashing success!
