Female participation in sports has skyrocketed in recent years according to Statista, and the Pumas are feeling the increase on their home turf. Between both the middle and upper school, UPrep has nine volleyball teams this season.
“Having female role models in sports is really important because there are so many young girls out there who might not feel that they are good enough to play their sport,” junior Alexa Angelone said.
Angelone plays the right side position on the varsity volleyball team and has played since sixth grade.
The varsity squad has a 12-2 record and may reach state for the first time since 2005.
“I think the program will keep getting bigger, and the support that we have for these teams is really exciting. A lot of girls in the program have a lot of potential,” Angelone said.
Between the four teams in the upper school, there are 46 athletes wearing the blue and gray this year.
Varsity volleyball coach Leilani Moody recognizes the importance of role models in sports.
“They are very important because men’s sports always outshine women’s sports, and role models are needed. They continue to empower women to be great, not only in sports, but also in academics and in life,” Moody said.
However, there are some who are worried about upholding the school’s athletic policies, such as sophomore varsity volleyball player Alicia Sun.
“Sure, it’s great to see the development, but at some point it’s going to be too much, and we’ll need to institute some sort of cut policy,” Sun said.
However, UPrep Director of Athletics Rebecca Moe maintains her stance on the policies.
”I’m going to give everybody a fair chance no matter what, and that’s the value of a no-cut program,” Moe said.
For sophomore Emmy Stewart, a participant on the Pumas Cross Country team, having female leaders is crucial.
“It’s important to be able to have someone that you identify with in whatever you’re interested in, so that the path has been paved for you and you feel like it’s attainable,” Stewart said.
This season, the Pumas have 13 girls running the courses, as opposed to seven just two years ago.
Another women’s sport that has seen growing national interest is soccer. Viewership of the top women’s soccer league in the US, the NWSL, is up by 48% from 2022, according to the leagues website, but the league still struggles in comparison to viewership of the men’s game. Moe understands that there’s still work to be done. Girls nationwide have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than boys have according to the Women’s Sports Foundation.
“Compared to men’s sports, it’s still minuscule because of the lack of media exposure they have,” Moe said.
Sophomore varsity soccer player Isla Maron loves what is happening to the game of soccer.
“Having a role model is very important. I didn’t have a female coach until very late in my life, and I think it’s critical to see people of your gender representing what you want to do,” Maron said.
She aspires to play Division I soccer and has some colleges that she is already interested in.
“As the NWSL grows, there will be more and more role models for aspiring players, which will grow the sport in the long run,” Maron said.
According to a LinkedIn study, girls who play sports are more likely to graduate college, find a job, and be employed in male-dominated fields.
“It helps set women up for the real world,” Moe said. “And I’m all for it.”
