There are so many opportunities that I can get here that I am not able to get anywhere else.
The start of the Fall season signaled a major milestone for Peddie’s junior varsity girls volleyball team. On September 22, 2026, co-captain Evie Jee ’30 served to open the match against The Hun School of Princeton — the program’s first match since 2007. Jee supports a roster consisting of 14 players alongside fellow co-captains Allison Li ’27 and Minh Le ’28.
The return comes in response to strong student interest and revives a proud Peddie volleyball tradition that began in 1990, when student enthusiasm helped launch the program under Coach Catherine Watkins. By the early 2000s, Peddie volleyball had reached new heights, capturing its first state championship behind standout student athletes and dedicated coaching. The program concluded in 2007, making this fall’s return nearly two decades in the making.
The Falcons may have fallen to Hun 2-0 (26-24, 25-18) in a close match on the road, but energy still soared high. Peddie trailed by eight in the first set and knotted the score, in part to multiple aces by Shivani Mukkamala ’29.
“We’re definitely all hyped up right now,” Mukkamala said.
Le shared her teammate’s enthusiasm.
“I’m very excited for the season, and I’m very proud of everyone,” she said.
This match was not only the first for the junior varsity girls volleyball team, but it also marked Head Coach Lea Clarke’s first match at Peddie. When reflecting on the experience, she praised her players’ resilience and shared in their excitement for the team’s future.
“Number one was just the level of energy, hype and power that these girls brought for their very first match,” Clarke said. “Nerves can be a thing that slows teams down, but these girls definitely rose to the occasion of that first match for sure. This is definitely one for the books, so I’m very, very proud. There are some things to work on, but this is a beautiful foundation for the rest of this program for sure.”
The Falcons are scheduled to travel to The Lawrenceville School for their next match on Friday, September 25, at 4:30 p.m. Visit the livestream page to follow along with their season live or on-demand!