Linden Middle School Volleyball Opens Season 4-0

Strong serving, steady defense and growing trust fuel the team’s perfect start

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ — Four matches. Four wins. Linden Public Schools’ middle school volleyball team has opened the season 4-0, with aggressive serving, determined defense and a group of players learning how to count on one another.

Coach Marcda Thermitus wants her players to take chances and understand what they bring to the court.

“Every player serves a purpose,” Thermitus said. “I want them to be confident, go for everything and make aggressive decisions that work in our favor.”

Every Player Has a Role

Starting setters Antonina Domaradzka and Valentina Caro Valencia have kept plays moving with hustle and assists. Captains Sophia Cruz and Natalie Pasternak have been among the team’s top scorers, contributing service aces and kills.

Three-year team member Izabela Lepek-Brocka brings experience. Liana Pinheiro and captain Galilea Gamarra help steady the back-row defense. Isabella Matosiuk, Valentina Espinosa, Sophia Rocha and Elisha Francois have shown they can adapt quickly and contribute in different positions.

The connections between those players matter, too. Thermitus said the girls have grown closer this season, and the captains have worked to make sure teammates feel supported, recognized and included. That sense of belonging shows up in the way they compete for each point.

Building Beyond the First Four Wins

The unbeaten start is an achievement. Thermitus is also looking ahead, helping players build the confidence, accountability and knowledge they will carry into next season or high school.

“My goal is to get them ready for high school or to have them return next year with better knowledge and continue to progress,” she said.

That growth reflects Linden’s ROAR focus on Achievement and Relationships: players developing their skills while learning to trust and support one another.

The season is young. Come cheer on the team and see where it goes next.