The Vixens’ Valiant Victories

Joanne Hwang is an Opinions editor for The Spectator.

The Vixens, Stuyvesant’s Girls Varsity Volleyball team, have capped an undefeated regular season, leading the 3A Manhattan II division 10-0. Last season, the Vixens reached the playoff finals and lost to McKee/Staten Island Tech. This year, the team entered the season determined to rebuild and refocus for another chance at winning the championship that eluded them last season. 

The team faced the significant challenge of replacing last year’s seniors, including the starting setter, a pivotal role that controls the offense and tempo of the game. Despite this, senior and co-captain Scarlett Kuit noted that this year has been a success, emphasizing the number of players who stepped up to fill the void left by last year’s graduates. “We did lose some strong players last year, but we’ve had a lot of people step up to fill their place,” Kuit said. This adaptability has been crucial to the team’s success. 

Kuit specifically credited sophomore Caelyn Dar for seamlessly transitioning into the starting setter position, acknowledging her flexibility in controlling the tempo of the game. The Vixens’ success has been further attributed to the emergence of underclassmen in key roles. Kuit highlighted the fact that both MVPs at the recent St. Johns Prep Dig Pink Tournament were sophomores, including Dar and Grace Liu. Senior and co-captain Zihe Huang also highlighted how flexibility in the lineup has contributed to the team’s success so far this season. “This year, one of our biggest roster changes was the transition of one of our sophomore middles, Grace Liu, to become an outside hitter,” Huang said. “Since the start of the season, Grace [has proven] herself to be a very effective hitter who is also proactive with plays at the net, and has improved a lot since the last season.”

Additionally, the Vixens’ bench depth has been a defining feature of their victorious season. “I think that’s always been one of our strengths: having a really deep bench that can always support the starting team,” Kuit said. This depth has been essential, as all members of the team have consistently contributed during crucial moments, helping the team remain competitive despite roster changes. “In general, we have some really strong underclassmen, which bodes well for the future of the team,” Kuit described.

With six seniors contributing to the leadership and experience, their focus this season has been on the team’s mental game. The team noted a pattern of frustration that has led to the team playing below expectations. For senior and co-captain Joanne Hwang, this focus was crucial. “Half of volleyball is a mental game, and as seniors, we have a responsibility to keep our own mental game in check but also uplift the underclassmen. Something that the seniors had to tackle this year was how to help people brush off a bad day or bad few points so that we could focus with clear minds and confidence.”

To address this, the team emphasized morale-building on and off the court to create a more open-minded environment for the players. “We held multiple team meetings and devised ways to make people laugh from the sidelines and on the court,” Hwang said. “A big factor was keeping the energy up—being ridiculous and excited for every point gained and opportunities for better points.”

Huang’s personal goals for this year are to reach at least the quarterfinals of the PSAL playoffs. Like her co-captains, she noted that mental consistency remains one of the team’s biggest challenges, saying, “As a team, I think the area that we struggled with the most is the mental game, especially when it comes to playing confidently on the court even if the match is close.” 

Despite the intensity of their schedule, the Vixens remained largely healthy this season, a notable difference from last year, with only a few minor setbacks like Kuit’s brief injury during a scrimmage against Brooklyn Tech. Looking forward, the Vixens hope to carry their early-season momentum into the playoffs while working on their mental game. “We’re lucky to have so many talented players that can support the team against different opponents,” Hwang said. 

As the end of the PSAL fall season approaches, the Vixens’ undefeated record reflects their hard work and steady development across their lineups. The team has focused on maintaining consistency in each match, with their experienced seniors guiding the underclassmen and newer players. Whether or not their regular season success translates into a deep playoff run, it has highlighted how seamless position transitions, good leadership, and mental toughness have driven the Vixens’ impressive performance and undefeated record in the regular season.