On Friday, May 23rd, 2025, the Student Class of 2027 hosted the Students vs. Faculty in the Finn Gym. The game was scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm, and volunteers assisted in setting up decorations around the gym while the players began to warm up for an exciting game against their educators.
President and Event Coordinator of Student Class of 2027, respectively, Alexia Lima and Emilly Weihrauch, are also lead reporters of the Blue & Gold. Lima stated how the council was “heavily inspired by the Students vs. Faculty Basketball Game” to host the volleyball game. Weiharuch added how she thought the game allowed for student-teacher bonding, which is beneficial to the relationship development of both parties, fostering healthy dynamics within the school.
However, amidst the council’s planning, they faced an issue with conflicting schedules. Weihrauch stated that they “planned to host a different, much larger event on our planned date,” which ultimately led the council to decide that the volleyball game could be “turned around in a shorter amount of time.”
Other minor issues came to light, like an abundance of “senior events, AP exams, and state games,” in which Lima elaborated on the original game date being the day of the boys’ volleyball team’s first round in the MIAA State tournament, setting the council back significantly. They decided to put their faith into the prospering success of volleyball games, hoping to garner enough attention and profit for the council.
Social Media Coordinator and Boys’ Volleyball manager, Raquel Ferreira, utilized her role efficiently, which enabled the council to “coordinate and oversee” the event smoothly, as Lima explained. In further detail, Ferreira used her knowledge to “easily communicate with both varsity teams,” knowing each player’s strengths to “create fair teams,” whilst being able to “referee all games,” and allow the council to “create a game schedule that worked well.”
Despite the setbacks the student class of 2027 faced, they reached a natural consensus where they saw the game as a learning experience; troubleshooting future events, promoting diligently, and preparing further in advance were many aspects taken into further consideration.
The match was separated into six sets, bracketed into two teacher teams versus four student teams. Teacher Team 1 was composed of Dan Jurkowski, Joshua Sellers, Michel-Le Meranda, Shauna Campbell, Mark Gagnon, and Jonathan Currier. Teacher Team 2 was composed of Brian Sou, Meghan McCormick, John Frigo, Patrick Healey, Michael Berman, Ashley Freeman, and Chris Giordano. On the other hand, students were allotted into four groups, playing in their respective sets, until one team reached 15 points.
Starting the game off, Teacher Team 1 went against the first student team. Through an intense match of passing and blocks, students took the lead within the first rally. However, teachers slowly crept up. In the end, students came out victorious, winning 15-12.
Shortly following a small break period, set 2 began. Teacher Team 2 went against the second student team. In set 3, Teacher Team 1 went against the third student team. Sets 2 and 3 were intense for both teachers and students. Vying back and forth, both sides crept up on one another, tying as each rally ended. Eventually, the scores were tied, 14-14. Breaking the tie, students in both sets would reach 15-14. It didn’t end yet, as in the event both sides reach 14, one team would have to reach 16 points to claim victory. In their last rally, students would win 16-14.
After an intense match in set 3, set 4 would be a turning point for the teachers, as Teacher Team 2 would go against the fourth student team. Set 4 mainly consisted of students within the Junior Varsity volleyball teams for both boys and girls, or those who hadn’t played formally at all. Beginning the set with a close bracket, the score was neck and neck. Compared to the last two rounds, teachers were at a higher advantage, eventually skewing the score to 12-15 in a final rally.
Each set would begin to continue the bracket, where winners from previous rounds would continue onwards, competing for the title of best team. However, set 5 took a turn, putting in the best of the best. Composed of only students, the winners from round 1 and round 2, this would make set 5. The student winners of round 2 would win with a score of 15-11. The winners of this round would move on to a final set against a mixed selection of teachers.
In set 6, teachers were carefully picked from both teams to curate the perfect team with the best odds of winning, which would then go against the winners from set 5, playing till 25 points.
Left and right, the ball went. Up and down, over the net, onto the floor. Click. A score for the students. Then the teachers. Then the students. Back and forth, the scoreboard went. A match anticipated by many, both the students and the players themselves.
Eventually, the students from round 5 would come out victorious, with a final score of 25-22. The student winners of round 2 would take home the title of reigning champions of the Student v. Faculty Volleyball Game, alongside the reward of bragging rights!
Math teacher Joshua Sellers, who is also a coach for the Junior Varsity team, enjoyed how “there were some students playing in the student faculty game that were not [volleyball] players.” Sellers emphasized how the passion of seeing the players attempt to defeat him and Dan Jurkowski motivated him to push forward.
Jurkowski, Varsity coach for both the Boys’ and Girls’ teams, noted that there were “lots of kids who play volleyball at the school,” which personally made him happy to see. Knowing the players, he described that it was “going to be an uphill battle.” In the end, Jurkowski was happy to acknowledge the success of the council and how, despite the teacher losses, they were closer to winning than predicted.
Student players, such as freshmen Xiaohui Li, Alexis Lee, and Julius Scott, reflected on their experience playing and were overall glad to have done so.
Li described their experience as “really fun” and how “the crowd was absolutely amazing.”
Lee, on the other hand, who is part of the Junior Varsity team, focused on the diversity of players, where “being able to play with people I don’t usually play with in game,” really let her “enjoy the informal match.”
Scott, who played for the first time in a competitive setting, enjoyed the support of the players and how the team was “super supportive,” which ultimately led his teammates to victory.
Overall, the game received very positive reviews and feedback from both teachers and players, helping contribute to future events from the class of 2027. As the game wrapped up all the events the council had to offer, stay tuned for more hyped-up, geared-up events from the future Junior class!
