Apex and Green Hope Volleyball: an olive branch of sportsmanship between rivals

Kai Alesio and Caroline Newcomb

September 5, 2025

Sherry Wang ‘28 (middle) in black stands with the Apex varsity volleyball team to honor her sportsmanship from 8/28.

Last Thursday, Green Hope Varsity Volleyball took on Apex Volleyball at the Nest. The Falcons came out with a dominant win of three sets to none, this being their eighth straight sweep and second consecutive conference win to continue an undefeated season run. The Cougars put up a great fight in each set and were gracious sports after the match.

In a new Apex Volleyball tradition, head coach Michael Webster led his team in a quick post-match speech to the Green Hope players about the value of sportsmanship. Coach Webster then announced that the Cougars had a “token of appreciation”, sparked by Athletic Directors across our new conference, Quad City 7, for the player with the best sportsmanship in the match. Webster emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and hustle, saying, “Let’s compete hard against one another and make each other better while at the same time competing with respect and sportsmanship.” The token, a double-sided coin with one side representing the Quad City 7 conference and the other side carrying the Apex High logo, was awarded to sophomore outside hitter Sherry Wang (‘28). Webster says, “I really hope that the teams in the conference gain respect for each other. Wanting to win and working towards the goal of winning can go hand and hand with respecting each other, sportsmanship, and recognizing great effort and hard work in your opponents.”

Sherry Wang (‘28) goes up for a kill against Wake Forest volleyball. Photo used with permission from Ryan Kinder.

In the first ten matches of the season, #14 Sherry Wang recorded 52 kills in 24 sets played, with a 0.521 hitting percentage and 2.2 kills per set. When asked what the award meant to her, Wang said, “I was so humbled to receive that award. That makes all my efforts spent on volleyball pay off. I’d like to turn this acknowledgement into motivation to work harder for volleyball.” As a 5’8 freshman, she was pulled up to play on varsity mid-season last year due to success on JV, success that has continued so far in her 2025 varsity season.

Wang says that her favorite part of Green Hope volleyball is the supportive atmosphere on the court, and that it makes her feel more motivated to keep working and improving in order to show up for her teammates. She hopes to play collegiate volleyball in the future and will continue to work to improve her skills as a player. “Representing varsity to play on the court makes me excited, also the encouragement from teammates means a lot to me.” Teammates on and off the court recognize the kindness and care that Wang exhibits, and she is a crucial and valued player on the Green Hope Volleyball team.

Wang and the rest of the team will continue their season through this October, looking to go far in state and conference playoffs after the regular season concludes. With this new tradition of honoring sportsmanship, the Quad City 7 conference can build an environment of support and camaraderie on and off the court as well as between teams.

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About the Contributors

Kai Alesio, Staff Writer

Kai Alesio is a junior at Green Hope, and this is her first year on the GH Falcon as a staff writer. She decided to pursue Journalism after being introduced to the class, Leadership in Media, by friends. She realized that joining the staff would help her learn more about her peers at Green Hopem, as well as help her become more established in its community. Kai is interested in all aspects of the GH Falcon but has a specific curiosity in Student Life, where she can share the stories and accomplishments of her peers. Outside of school, Kai participates in school volleyball, as well as school and club softball. Additionally, she can be found reading, painting or making jewelry. She hopes to pursue softball in college alongside a degree in life sciences.

Caroline Newcomb, Staff Writer

Caroline Newcomb is a senior at Green Hope, and this is her first year writing for the GH Falcon. She believes that writing can unite a community, and has always been fascinated by the ability to captivate an audience, which led her to join the staff. She flourishes in the media world – whether that be working behind the scenes for our school news or writing for the GH Falcon. Volleyball plays a major role in Caroline’s life. Not only does she play for Green Hope, but she also runs the social media page for both her volleyball and the school’s softball team. With a lot on her plate, Caroline’s coordination comes in handy, making her organization one of her most admirable traits. When Caroline is not playing sports, you can find her working out, at the beach or listening to her favorite artist, Drake. If you catch Caroline a decade from now, expect to see her working with a sports team, focusing on curating their image and helping them grow as an athlete.