Severn Volleyball Program Preps For Maiden Voyage

As Severn School’s new volleyball team practiced in late August, the team celebrated milestones big and small.

They celebrated winning a set in their first scrimmage. A couple of days later, they cheered getting the ball over the net in a passing drill.

These were baby steps in a program poised for a big trajectory in a short amount of time, and for players coming from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, everything is a cause for encouragement.

That relentless positivity has rubbed off on the players and is fostering a fun atmosphere as the Admirals program prepares for its maiden voyage.

“So far, I’m really excited about the personnel that we have across the board. We have some great senior leadership. We are developing our younger players and building some skills and volleyball IQ, but there’s a lot of room to grow,” said Severn coach Erin Bernhardt, who played collegiately at Gardner-Webb and then professionally in the now-defunct Premier Volleyball League.

“Even with some of the girls who have played before, it’s been a little bit since they’ve played, so we’re still working through that even with those who had experience. … It gives us a freedom to really enjoy the experience and enjoy the game. There’s no pressure this season, so we can relax and have fun, and try to implement some of the things we’re putting in, but otherwise just have fun.”

With a mix of experienced volleyball players and those who are experiencing the sport on the competitive level for the first time, it could be easy for the built-in gaps in competition level to cause friction.

Not so for the Admirals, however. They thrive on learning together, regardless of skill level or experience.

“It's just super important to make sure that everyone’s included in terms of volleyball. Even if you’re not the best, or if you’ve played your entire life, being included still matters,” said senior Charlotte Reilly, who is playing organized volleyball for the first time this fall. “I’m not the best one out there by any means, but getting everyone involved in the huddle, in the cheers, and playing the game is super important. The teams that I’m a part of that have done that have been the most fun to be a part of.”

That experience will be tested in games against an assortment of public and private school opponents. Severn will compete on a club basis in 2024, meaning that they get around two months together before the season ends. No hope of a postseason, no all-conference awards, nothing other than building the program for the future. They’re on course to receive full Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) program status in 2025.

Still, that carrot was enough to get seniors like Reilly to buy in and leave a standard for those who will follow.

“Most of the seniors are some of my best friends, and we made the decision to come out together. We were going to be the oldest players on the team, so we wanted to come out and help set what it means to be a Severn athlete and a Severn student into this program, considering it’s so new,” said Reilly, who also plays lacrosse at Severn. “That comes from the people above you, so we’ve followed the lead of those who came before us, and we want to set that tone here now that we’re the oldest players.”