Monomoy Volleyball Plays To Best Record In Program’s Short History

HARWICH – The players composing this year’s Monomoy volleyball team have entrenched themselves as the strongest group in the program’s history. 

It only took half a season.

Since volleyball first became an official varsity sport at the school in 2023, no team has won more games than the Sharks already have in 2026. They clinched that achievement Monday after a 3-0 win against Rising Tide (25-4, 25-6, 25-6) put Monomoy’s record at 6-2.

“It feels amazing,” senior Rory Shortis said. “I feel like we have a great team, and we've actually always had a great team. But I think this year we're just kind of cleaning it up, and it's showing.”

A start of four consecutive wins to begin the year has bolstered the Sharks. In fact, when they won the season opener against Mashpee 3-1 on Sept. 11, it represented the first time a Monomoy volleyball team had ever even been above .500.

That’s only a fraction of the benchmarks the incipient program has brushed off as it ascends into its breakthrough. The 4-0 open was, of course, the Sharks’ longest win-streak ever.

The instant success was no revelation to the group, though. They only consider it proof, finally, of their capabilities.

“I knew we could do it,” head coach Lindsey Hooper said. “I think the biggest thing coming out of preseason for us was just that they put in so much work in the offseason, and they really, really wanted to come out this year and just start with a bang.”

That Monomoy has won several games isn’t the only sign they’re playing at a level they’ve never seen before. It’s who they’re beating, too.

After taking down Mashpee, the Sharks defeated Cape Cod Tech and Nauset (both reached the state tournament last year and are teams Monomoy had never beaten). Then, they won a second time against Mashpee (who also made the playoffs). 

“I wasn't shocked,” Hooper said. “It was a great feeling because it was new for us, but I was not surprised.”

With eight games remaining, Monomoy is well-positioned to reach their first state tournament. They slotted in at No. 29 in Division 4 in the MIAA’s release Tuesday of the first set of power rankings for the 2026 fall season, and they’ll earn a play-in game regardless if they finish with a record at or above .500. 

Until then, they have numerous opportunities to keep adding wins — each one further cementing the realization of their historic record. Having played to a full five sets in half of their matches thus far, the team just loves volleyball and doesn’t want to stop playing, Hooper joked. And all good jokes, as the notion goes, have truth to them.

“We were all actually very, very excited for the season to happen because we knew that we were going to win a bunch of games, and we knew that we were going to do great,” Shortis said.

Explaining their on-court shine, the team points to their cohesion. Shortis, a middle blocker, junior outside hitter Kinsey Lister and sophomore setter Ella Cutter star for the Sharks, while other newer players have risen to become assets as well.

“We all love each other,” Shortis said. “We all support each other.”

They prioritize not criticizing one another — leaving the task of constructive feedback to their coaches, according to Shortis. Their intention is to lift each other up after every point, regardless of the result. When a ball goes their way, they celebrate with zero reservations.

“We're good players, but we're good teammates, too,” Shortis said.

Above anything else, the Sharks being in concert together is what’s vaulted them to where they currently are, a success rate previously unseen in volleyball at Monomoy. 

“The team chemistry is so good,” Hooper said. “It's what makes them. That's why they win games. They're happy to be here. They love playing.”