This spring, the Athletics Department introduced Intramural Volleyball as a sports credit option. Daniel Rohde ’28 advocated for the creation of the team as an option for male students to play volleyball. Now, the cohort has become a fun opportunity for all students who don’t play at the JV or Varsity level of volleyball. Due to ISL and NEPSAC rules, any girls on Thirds, JV, or Varsity Volleyball are unable to participate on the intramural team; this rule opens the team up to a new subset of students.
This year, the Athletics Department offered pickleball and volleyball as low-stakes intramural options. While Milton used to host recreational soccer and ultimate frisbee, pickleball and volleyball were the only intramural offerings this year.
The Intramural Volleyball team is supervised by Varsity Volleyball Head Coach Tori Perez. The group meets three times a week and practices for up to an hour and a half—a lesser commitment than a fall volleyball team. Perez commented that the fully recreational team “turned into something fun and really amazing for the boys and girls on campus,” and she remains thrilled for next year.
A highlight of this inaugural spring season was the faculty vs. student intramural game. A staple of the Varsity Volleyball season was the faculty scrimmage against the team; both Coach Perez and Director of Equity and Inclusion Melissa Lawlor wanted to continue this tradition with the new intramural team. Perez spoke highly of the match between the faculty and intramural team, remarking that “it was all laughs and smiles.” The students won two of the three sets. Lawlor, who helped set up the game, described the event as “very joyous.” She felt that, since the staff members knew students on the team, having “that friendly rivalry” was “really fun.”
When asked about the environment the team has created, Lawlor reflected upon the success of this intramural team, despite the challenges the team has faced: “you don’t often get kids who really know and are passionate about the sport [mixed] with people who don’t have any experience.” This blend of students can sometimes lead to a poor culture, but with the right combination of kids—like this year’s team—competition and practices can be fun, friendly, and genuine. Kamilla Ruiz ’27, a member of the team, felt that “the team is fun to be a part of,” and she has “really enjoyed her time practicing with them” this spring.
The success of intramural volleyball may encourage continued interest in recreational athletic opportunities at Milton. For students who are not interested in the demands of JV or Varsity athletics, intramural sports provide another avenue to remain active, form connections, and participate in some friendly competition.