Fall Sports Preview 2026-27

By Centerspread Editor Ariana Yi & Staff Writer Kelly Shi

Girls Tennis

After seeing rival teams improve their play in recent years, new Girls Tennis Coach Kevin Han hopes to sharpen the team’s edge and reclaim top standing this season. “I’m looking forward to really helping the program, helping the girls, and just getting us back on top,” Han said. Co-Captains Senior Shilpa Athur, Senior Emma Feng, and Junior Kuhu Samant have been setting the tone early with off-season bonding activities and team practices to make sure newcomers feel welcome. The captains believe the support from teammates is especially crucial for a sport that is often played solo. “You have everybody cheering for you on the side, so you really don’t feel alone while you’re playing … you kind of know that everyone has your back,”  Samant said.

Girls Golf 

Girls Golf is getting ready for another high energy season, balancing early course preparation and strong team unity. With tryouts and preseason having ended, returning players help incoming freshmen settle down with various team bonding events. Beyond building camaraderie, upperclassmen are also taking time to guide them to master proper course etiquette. Even though team members are disconnected and separated at times on the course, the squad stays unified and hyped through pre-match team cheers and constant motivation throughout play. Coming off of a close loss to American High School last year, the team hopes to zero in on this rivalry to help them secure a spot in the NCS championship. “Since it’s my last year, I’m really hoping that we make it to NCS and do well, and that the team just gets closer overall,” Captain Senior Meera Anand said. 

Girls Waterpolo

As the girls enter into a competitive fall season, the team is focusing on building both endurance and team chemistry. Beyond training at practices, captains are actively mentoring new players to prepare them for the intense physical plays they will encounter during matches. “It takes time — no one starts out super comfortable getting physical, but exposing new players to it helps them gain confidence where it really counts,” Captain Senior Katelynn Tran said. Looking ahead, the team is set on avenging last year’s narrow loss during their Senior Night rematch against Washington.

Boys Water Polo 

With a relatively young roster, Boys Water Polo is working to establish a strong foundation for the season. The team is focused on growing together; they aim to improve with every game and finish the season with more wins than losses. Through a larger emphasis on watching game film and strengthening the trust and communication needed to work together to score, the team hopes to turn each game into an opportunity to learn. “We just need to trust each other with the ball more, because if there’s no trust, then that also becomes a problem within the team,” Captain Senior Danny Lou said. With their game against American High School serving as this year’s Homecoming game, the team is excited to use the energy of the home crowd to start the season off strong. 

Girls Volleyball

After last season’s placement near the top of the league, Girls Volleyball is entering the new season with a focus on growth and building a strong foundation for the future. With their ambitious goal of finishing in the top two out of eight teams in the league, the team is emphasizing consistency, discipline, and a strong mentality, working to improve through consistent, daily practice. “The biggest expectation for the team is just growth, not just as players, but as people, mentally as well as physically,” Coach Colby Albrecht said. Looking beyond this season, the team hopes to develop strong chemistry and establish a program that can continue to grow for years to come.

Cross Country

Cross Country is entering the season with new runners and high hopes, aiming to finish in the top three this year at MVALs. “Our new leadership is showing up to practice on time, we’re super optimistic and happy, and we’re bringing the vibes to the track,” Captain Senior Kaylin Teo said. This year, the team is taking a more comprehensive approach to training, placing an emphasis on higher mileage, hill work, and plyometrics — highly intensive muscle-strengthening exercises — to build a strong foundation that will carry over to races. As the season progresses, the team hopes their hard work in daily practices will bring them closer to their goal of finishing among the top teams in MVALs this season.