The crowd roars, whistles, and cheers as Tenafly Varsity Volleyball’s seniors walk through the gym. The team lines up on either side of a massive orange-and-black balloon arch, clapping for their teammates in the graduating class of 2026. Each player pausing to receive their celebratory bouquet of flowers, the seniors and their parents stop for one last picture with the volleyball net.

Senior nights across all sports mark the unofficial end of the fall season and signal a goodbye to the dedicated, longstanding players in the program. The traditions aren’t just limited to their special night. Every year, the players stay behind after practice for their annual decorations before the night. Discreetly finding the locker codes and numbers of each senior, the girls arrive at school the next day to see their locker embellished with orange and black wrapping paper, balloons, streamers, and photos of their own faces. With posters handcrafted by the freshmen and massive posters of each player, the seniors get their own spotlight in the newly-opened gym. 

This volleyball season has been unlike any other. Without a gym to play in, the girls have spent hours on the bus—traveling from schools in local towns such as Dumont to as far as Caldwell. On days without a game, the team walked over to the middle school, setting up nets to practice in smaller gyms. 

Leah Kravic (’26), a senior on the team, described the situation as “a challenge to be practicing without a home court for most of the season, but any difficulties have been balanced out with how close the team is.” Even with tight corners and cramped lines, the volleyball team worked their hardest to make the best out of the space they had, practicing until 5:30 on the weekdays and coming in early (time?) on Saturday mornings.

Closing out the year with a 16-8 record and placing in the Final Four at Counties, the team proved that their determination could overcome any obstacles in their way. From the long bus rides to the late-night practices, each player demonstrated an unshakeable commitment to each other and their sport. They secured major wins against teams such as Pascack Hills and Old Tappan, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state sectional tournament, setting a strong precedent for years to come.

Tenafly’s win against Cresskill was another showcase of the dynamic that the team has built throughout the season. With the help of the seniors, the team secured a victory in just three sets (3-0). Kravic shared her love of the team for giving her “really bittersweet but amazing year. We’ve really grown, both in skill level and in our friendships with each other. It’s going to be very hard to leave after this season and I’m going to miss all the girls.” 

Brielle Moon (’26) described her experience playing at a home court. “I’m truly grateful for everyone who showed up and came to support us,” she said. “I love this team and they’ve worked really hard to get this far. It was just a really great end to our season.”