From its humble origins in Massachusetts, to its introduction into the Olympics, volleyball has captivated crowds and entranced audiences with its famous bumps, sets, and spikes. Volleyball was first created by William G. Morgan in 1895, who put together the net from tennis, the ball from basketball, the sets from baseball, and the use of hands from handball to make an antiquated version of the sport we know. It was adopted by the YMCA, who spread it all around the world, especially in India, China, Europe, South America, and Africa. Soon after, volleyball was introduced to the Olympics at the 1964 Tokyo games, and since then, it has grown to a sport millions of people around the world know and love.

Volleyball was first introduced competitively at Saucon in the year 2000. Now, twenty-four years later, the volleyball program has grown to a school favorite. The Lady Panthers, as they are called, are working hard this year to beat their opponents. The team have a great connection and bond to each other and the sport.

So far, the team has gotten off to a slow start.  Senior player Abigail Meier noted that the team has just recently begun playing together and that “most girls on the team haven’t played varsity at all until this year.” Experience is incredibly important for any sport, but especially volleyball because of the quick decisions and teamwork necessary to succeed.

Another reason for the slow start to the season may be the opponents. This year’s team has been unlucky because of the worthy opponents they have played so far. The Lady Panthers have played both Northwestern Lehigh and Southern Lehigh, losing to each.

Senior player Julia Reilly stated that these two teams’ “programs are very good, especially for middle school, so they get a lot of highly trained kids for high school.”

Although the volleyball team has struggled to rise above for the start of this season, they are looking for success and to improve their skill for future seasons as well. From new players to admirable adversaries, the team has faced it all, averaging only 18.7 points per set.

Sophomore player Vaughn Kaye said that they “do have some good upcoming players like Victoria, who’s a sophomore that’s just a wall in middle, and Addy and Ava, who are two juniors who are very strong in the back row.” While the team looks forward to their future building, they also look forward to support at their games by the student body and the Jungle.