If you were to peek into the Bruriah gym on a late Wednesday night, you would find 11 girls bumping volleyballs with smiles on their faces and music in their ears. To see them dance in running sneakers is not uncommon and they never let a birthday go uncelebrated. They are a united front, despite their inability to properly execute trust falls, and have created a new legacy for themselves this year. They have made their mark on JEC as its first volleyball team in history to participate in a championship.
Though previous years have not yielded desired results, the Volleyball B-league Lightning have won nine games this season and have risen to the top of their league. After beating Shulamith, the team went on to conquer the court against Magen David, SKA and Maayanot, suffering a single loss against the Magen David Warriors. With an almost perfect record, the Lightning caught a bye in the playoffs after defeating Ma’ayanot for the second time this season. The victory earned the Lightning the home court in this year’s championship.
Returning from a winless season, the ambitious team started the year motivated and determined to make a new name for themselves. As the 2016-2017 began, the volleyball team was unstoppable as they defeated every team in the league—losing only to Magen David—until they found themselves with an overall record of 9-1. The team has much gratitude for their previous coach, Ilana Schiff (‘11) as well as their current coaches, Aviva Jacobs (‘15) and Rebecca Van Bemmelen (‘12), all three Bruriah alumnae who have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the team puts its best foot forward. Arielle Miodownik (’18) notes that each of the coaches really helped the team. “Ilana [Schiff] taught me how to strengthen each skill, which was crucial for learning how to play. Now, Aviva [Jacobs] and Rebecca [Van Bemmelen] help put our skills to use and encourage teamwork. Their hard work to make us one team is evident on the court.” Her teammate, Rachelli Benoff (’18) adds, “Ilana, Rebecca, and Aviva are all role models for me, with their positivity, leadership qualities and middos.”
While their coaches have helped mold them into the team they are today, the Lightning have worked hard to ensure that every girl on the team contributes and is included in the team dynamic. The beauty of the team is that each player learns to work as part of a team as well as with the power of one. She develops in a social and emotional way and discovers her personal voice with the help of her teammates. Racheli Finkelstein (’20) agrees. “Being on a team is an amazing experience [in Bruriah] because teammates in every grade mean friends in every grade.” Most importantly, she notes, “The main thing that this team showed me is that if you work together, anything is possible.” With dedication and mantras such as these, it’s no wonder that the volleyball team is headed to the championships.
By Rivki Hook (‘18)
