Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Valley Stream South girls’ volleyball team has had a successful season with a 7-5 record in Conference 5, despite losing a couple of key pieces from last fall, with the help of fresher faces taking on veteran responsibilities.
“The girls really stepped up, we had a new younger players step into major roles that we’re cashing in on,” coach Stephanie Calzetta said. “They just worked hard over the summer and took on leadership roles on this team.”
This was a welcome surprise for Calzetta and her squad, starting with the likes of freshman setter Olivia Simone, who has 271 assists and 45 service aces.
“[Simone] worked over the summer on her setting skills and really cleaned up and learned some new kind of sets,” Calzetta explained. “She really did her homework over the summer and learned the game even more; going from an eighth grader to a ninth grader.”
Her sister, Giada Simone, is a sophomore and one of the co-captains, and is a threat all over the floor according to Calzetta, constantly giving the Falcons the edge. Giada has 60 digs and 58 kills.
“She stepped up, she became a captain this year, and really can play any position I put her in,” Calzetta said. “She’s a middle, but this year when one of our outside [hitters] was ill, she stepped in and went to a position she’s never played and killed it. When I needed her to be a libero for a game, she changed her jersey and was a libero. She can do pretty much anything I ask of her.”
Senior Ariel Navarro, who’s been on the varsity team since her freshman year, is a standout figure for Calzetta. Navarro leads the team with 115 kills.
“Her hits are hard, but also smart,” she said. “She’s keeping the other team’s defense constantly on their toes, and with her serves, other teams have a really hard timing receiving them, so she’s definitely a big block in our success.”
Another middle blocker is Ysabel Clesca, who Calzetta described as someone who is “finally owning her position” as well as the fact that she’s playing smarter, as wisdom have come with her age and experience. Clesea has 69 kills.
“She understands that she doesn’t have to kill the ball every time, she can just place it,” Calzetta explained. “She’s another one that keeps the other team’s defense on their toes.”
While the distribution of skill is consistent throughout the team, the separator between upper and lowerclassmen is in their behavioral profile as volleyball players.
“My older girls are playing a lot smarter (not necessarily harder),” she explained. “My younger girls are having a lot more fun and learning from them. It’s cool to watch.”
The unique pairings between upper and lower classmen Calzetta considers the difference maker in this team, because she knows that the benefits of the seeds planted now will be reaped in future seasons.
“Ariel works well with Olivia [Krawiel]; she’s coming from the junior high team where we don’t really have positions and Ariel really works with her to get her to be a stronger outside player, definitely leaving a mark for the future,” Calzetta said. Krawiel leads the team in aces with 56 and ranks near the top in digs with 54.
