Students arrived dressed in costumes on Nov. 3 at the LHS gym ready to bump, set, and spike their way to victory at the annual LHS Student Council of Excellence (SCOE) Volleyball Tournament. Teams of six players, each with unique names and costumes to match, paid $7 per player to be given the opportunity to compete for the crown. All proceeds raised benefit the Lynbrook Excellence in Education Foundation. 

With the entire student body informed of the tournament in advance, over 25 teams participated in the event. SCOE board members prepared for the event by arriving early to the LHS gymnasium to set up volleyball nets and divide the gym into six sections. Decorations were hung, music was played, and the brackets were created before the players arrived.

Throughout the tournament, refreshments and snacks donated by the Excellence in Education Foundation were sold. Following the bracket’s order, six volleyball games were played simultaneously, each coached by a SCOE member. Each game was played to 11 points, with the losing team being eliminated and the winning team moving on to the next match. Upon elimination, losing team members were encouraged to stay and cheer on their opponents. “My team lost the first round, and we were disappointed, but we decided to stay at the tournament and had just as much fun watching the other games! I am so glad we did!” freshman Julia Palay expressed. 

Another fun component of the competition was the costume contest. Each team used its creativity to dress up and did not disappoint. Photos were posted on the SCOE Instagram page and followers voted for their favorite costume. Teams were dressed in patriotic colors, all-black, Hawaiin shirts, or onesies, but the team dressed in the most unique costume was easily “The Old Sick Kings.” Team members seniors Sophia Rosenbaum, Mia Hristodoulou, Hailey Samelson, Dylan Baltes, Kaelynn O’Brien, and Mia Ciociano donned robes and crowns accompanied by gray wigs and walkers. “I thought the costume contest added extra fun to the event,” shared junior and SCOE Treasurer Michael DeJoseph. “I loved seeing the teams showing up in their unique costumes. The Old Sick Kings was my favorite; it was hysterical!”

After qualifying rounds concluded, it was time for the championship round. The highly anticipated game was played by Team Hawaii versus the Star-Spangled Spikers. The intense game consisted of three rounds that ended with the Star-Spangled Spikers victorious. Seniors Ryan Shapiro, Max Dantona, Tyler Denker, Jake Lunati, Nathan Santoli, and Max Cordes celebrated their victory with a prize bag provided by SCOE. 

SCOE members and attendees of the tournament both agreed that the event was a success. “The volleyball tournament was an enormous success,” said SCOE advisor and social studies teacher John Cornicello. “We raised over $1,200! The money from this tournament will go to the Lynbrook Educational Foundation, which is an organization that provides resources to teachers on projects beyond the budget’s scope. I applied for—and won—a grant through this organization, and my AP government students can [now] play Fantasy Congress throughout the school year.” SCOE President and senior Mischa Martin agreed: “SCOE thanks everyone for participating and supporting our club. It was so much fun seeing all the different costumes and all the teams coming together. We plan to have another volleyball tournament in the future, and I cannot wait!”