Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School’s Varsity Girls Volleyball team is more than just a physical activity; there have been stages for growth, unity, and the pursuit of excellence between our wonderful team consisting of 19 girls! Among the many sports that bring out these qualities, volleyball stands out for its demand for teamwork, precision, and strategy.

For the Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team, at Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School, the season is not just about wins and losses, but about building character, forming lifelong bonds, and representing their school with pride.  Franklin Delano Roosevelt High boasts an excellent Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team, made up of diverse and talented players, each excelling in their own unique way. Sean Gigliello, the team’s dedicated coach, is not only a teacher of Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calculus, but also a hardworking and passionate volleyball coach. He has supported both the girls’ and boys’ volleyball teams for years, and he is committed to continuing that support in the future.  He conveyed his thoughts about the team, saying, “we are a young team with a great work ethic and the team is working hard to make a name for themselves in the PSAL.” 

We have wonderful players on the team as well, such as our 3 captains, Aleena Rivera, Phoebe Wu, and Delilah Nieves.  After interviewing Phoebe, one of the captains, she shared an inspiration quote,  “​​I think the team is doing good on supporting each other, no matter what and we are always there for each other physically & mentally. This team right now has been nothing but laughing & joy. We get serious when we need to be, we are like one happy family, we don’t always get along after a stressful game, but we always make up and love each other.  This team hasn’t won many games, but I won as a person for having such an incredible team, and made some really strong friendships.”  Phoebe is a senior at Franklin Delano Roosevelt, ever since joining the varsity volleyball girl team, she has been an older sister to some of the girls on the team.  As a strong shoulder to lean on in situations, she has always been a great person to rely on, such as her great defense on the court.  Another captain, Delilah Nieves, who is a sophomore at FDR, shared a wonderful message, saying, “the girls volleyball team is kind of like one big family that just supports each other and there’s nothing but laughs and giggles, but there’s also a ton of improvement. The girls are becoming more consistent in practice in games and getting more rhythm. Overall, I am so so so proud of us. I love them all.” 

The girls volleyball team has overcome many challenges as one big family, acting as a big tree where everyone can support each other.  For the past two seasons, the team has faced devastating losses, leading to no wins.  This year will change however, as this challenge serves as a wakeup call for the team.  The girls have dedicated themselves to improvement and hard work, looking forward to getting one win.  This season, their hard work is paying off. The team won one set against John Dewey, serving as proof that the team is improving.  The varsity girls’ volleyball team is more than just a group of athletes; they are a family. They demonstrate the values of hard work, dedication, and unity. As they continue to grow and achieve on the court.  The girls volleyball team will continue to work hard and improve, and continue to build deeper bonds with each other.