Monomoy Volleyball Wins First-Ever State Tournament Match In Inaugural Playoff Appearance

HARWICH – As the Monomoy volleyball team played in their first-ever playoff game last week, their coaches wore T-shirts that read “Everyone watches women’s volleyball.”

The size and volume of the home crowd inside the Sharks’ gym, as an inaugural postseason appearance became a milestone state tournament win, warranted that type of thinking.

During what was already easily the most successful year yet for a team that officially launched in 2023, No. 32 Monomoy ran away with a 3-0 win (25-22, 25-15, 25-13) against No. 33 Douglas in the preliminary round of the Division 4 tournament Thursday. 

Even without being aware of the stakes, the reaction on the playing surface, courtside and in the bleachers at the final point made it eminently clear something important had happened.

“It's been such an amazing season, and I think that this team has grown so much together and I'm so proud of us for making it this far,” said freshman Casey-Ann McKella, who had three aces, four kills and two digs.

Prior to their pioneering playoff win, the Sharks had already secured the program’s best regular season record by far (12-6) and a first-ever Cape and Islands League co-championship (with Nantucket).

“We've worked so hard to get to this point, and it just feels so amazing,” said senior Rory Shortis, who had five kills and two blocks against Douglas (10-10). “I think all of us are so proud of ourselves and proud of each other.”

Per the even seeding, the match with Douglas could have played out as a coin flip. But the Sharks largely cruised to the straight sets victory.

“All I told them was, ‘It doesn't matter what happens on the other side of the court. It doesn't matter who's playing, what they do. We worry about our side of the court and how we play,’” head coach Lindsey Hooper said. “And they just wanted to play hard. They wanted to be loud. They wanted to have fun, and when they have fun, they play better.”

The tightest set turned out to be the first, during which Douglas made a late run that cut into a Monomoy lead until a side out at 23-22. Then McKella aced the winner. 

“That play felt so empowering,” she said. “There was so much energy, in the gym, on the court, and everyone was so loud and out there. And we just wanted to put it away.”

The audio pop after the clinching point indeed made those “Everyone watches women’s volleyball” shirts — which had been sold by the team as part of a fundraiser, according to Hooper — fitting attire.

The atmosphere Thursday wasn’t the only piece of evidence. Monomoy had more than 20 freshman/eighth graders within the program this year. The players watch college and professional volleyball. That’s what the shirt represents.

“Look at all the people in the stands tonight, right?” Hooper said. “Everybody loves women's volleyball. It's the fastest-growing sport.”

After taking the close first frame, the Sharks proceeded to assemble a pair of double-digit set wins to finish out the overall victory.

Senior Jane Pillsbury had seven digs, six aces and three kills, and sophomore Maddy Gray had nine kills, four aces and three digs. Junior Kinsey Lister had five kills, one block and five digs, and sophomore Ella Cutter had 21 assists, two aces and four digs.

“We learned to tune out the crowd and focus on what we're doing on our court — on our side of the court,” McKella said. “We even ignore sometimes what the other side of the court is doing, and we focus on playing our game, playing as a team and not six individuals, as our coach would say. Just playing hard together.”

On Saturday, the Sharks fell 3-0 to No. 1 (and defending Division 4 champions) East Bridgewater (19-1) in the following round of the state tournament, concluding their historic season.

“Without all of us, we couldn't have done it,” Shortis said. “And we built this program over the years.”