The Kingswood Oxford varsity volleyball team closed out the 2025 season with a commanding 17-5 record, marking one of the program’s strongest performances in recent years. Despite facing intense competition and several emotional five-set battles, the Wyverns showed resilience as they pushed their way deep into a NEPSAC playoff run.
After KO opened the season with immediate momentum, the team quickly found its rhythm, with two dominant 3-0 sweeps of St. Luke’s School on Sept. 13 and Westminster on Sept. 17. From this point on, the Wyverns continued to build confidence, defeating Hotchkiss 3-1, Taft 3-2, and Greens Farms Academy 3-1. Across these early weeks, the Wyverns emphasised discipline and consistency.
“We started out the year hot and tried to continue it for as long as we could,” Head Coach Joe Sobowicz said. KO collected seven sweeps overall, including decisive 3-0 victories over Ethel Walker, Suffield Academy, Berkshire, Cheshire Academy, Canterbury, and Dexter Southfield. Their ability to close out matches cleanly became one of the defining features of their season, along with their ability to regroup and focus on the closing points of every match. Their five-set wins against Taft and Kent stood out as some of the most rewarding wins of the year.
As the Wyverns reached the midpoint of the year, the team started to face some adversity. After a narrow 3-2 loss to Greenwich Country Day on Sept. 30, and a tough 3-0 showing against powerhouse Loomis Chaffee on Oct. 6, KO responded with a critical 3-1 win over Williston Northampton and a mighty 3-0 sweep of Pomfret. The girls remained focused on their goals, even in heartbreaking matches such as the one against Worcester Academy on Oct. 15. As the season progressed, team leadership and chemistry grew stronger.
Players worked to build a culture based on trust, communication, and shared responsibility. “As we got closer to the playoffs, it felt like we got really close as a team, which was critical,” senior hitter Lola Peck said. The Wyverns carried this unity into the postseason.
On Nov. 12, the Wyverns opened the New England Championship as the number four seed. Facing off against fifth-seed Suffield Academy, a team they had fallen to just a month prior, the girls were ready to go. The Wyvern Den showed up as students packed Hewett Gymnasium to cheer on the team. It was all Wyverns from start to finish, resulting in a 3-0 sweep. Their playoff run ended, however, on Nov. 15 in a competitive 3-1 loss at Groton, but the fight and determination on display reflected a season defined by growth.
“We had a great season with a lot of success, but I think all of the returners for next season left this one with a sour taste in their mouths,” Sobowicz said. “Next season we are going to be really strong, and with this group we will be hard to beat and look forward to competing for a NEPSAC championship.”
From the opening whistle in September to the final point of the New England Championship, the Wyverns demonstrated grit, teamwork, and unwavering determination. With a 17-5 record, a series of standout wins, and a deep playoff push, KO finishes 2025 proud and already hungry for another shot at a championship next fall.
