Over the past few weeks, MassLive has asked girls volleyball coaches and athletic directors to reflect on their teams—specifically, the unsung heroes who make their programs successful.

For some coaches, it’s the player who shows up early and stays late to practice. For others, it’s the player who supports her teammates even when she is sitting on the bench.

Please learn about the unsung heroes of the 2025 girls’ volleyball coaches’ season in their coaches’ words below.

Note: Some submissions have been lightly edited for clarity. To add a player to the list, girls’ volleyball coaches can email sports@masslive.com .

Emi Szczepanek, Longmeadow, Junior - submitted by coach Patrick Curry

(Szczepanek) is always positive and an amazing teammate. She brings so much great energy to our

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