Volleyball has become one of the most popular sports for girls at Saint Stephen’s and is one of only three athletic programs on campus fielding competitive teams at the middle school, freshman, junior varsity, and varsity levels. The Falcons have generated a number of successful teams in recent years. SSES won its first district title in 2010 and followed that up with another in 2012. Those two championship teams produced four future collegiate players.

Tori Biach, who starred at Division II Northern State in South Dakota, was a four-year starter and a stalwart on those Saint Stephen’s teams. She was a three-time team MVP and all-county selection 2011 and 2012. Her career totals include 1,038 kills, 174 blocks and 162 aces. At NSU, Biach started more than 100 matches over four seasons and was a second team all-conference selection as a freshman in 2013. Other Saint Stephen’s standouts have included two-year team captain Lauren Johnson (Rhodes College), Maggie Holbert (Randolph-Macon), and Bryce Liebel (Centre College).

The 2019 Falcons will be looking to rekindle a fire following three consecutive losing seasons that have produced a combined record of just 22-28. SSES will continue its rebuilding process under the direction of new head coach Juan Garcia. Garcia comes to Saint Stephen’s from an athletic director’s position in Ohio, and with an extensive resume coaching at the interscholastic and club levels in Ohio and Tennessee. He inherits a team with some solid returning players to build around, including seniors Sarah Stevens and Kate Folkens, and sisters Ella and Julia Dodge.