There’s nothing more satisfying than winning a game you’ve worked so hard for, both in preparation, through training and conditioning– and during the game itself. Volleyball is an emotional rollercoaster, facing dozens of points made and lost. In the 2025-26 volleyball season, Graded participated in multiple tournaments: SAAC, Big 8, SPHSL, and, for the girls’ volleyball team, even Final Four. Let’s take a look at it!
To kick off the volleyball season, the annual SAAC (South American Activities Conference) was being hosted here at Graded. There were 7 teams participating: Graded, ASQ, Nido, FDR, ISC, UAS, and Lincoln– schools from 6 different countries. It is an opportunity to demonstrate teamwork, commitment, dedication, and perseverance, “[SAAC] allows athletes to grow and develop not just in their sport but as people,” affirms Richard Boerner, Graded’s superintendent. At the end of the second day, tensions and hopes were all very high; Graded girls only lost once and Graded boys being undefeated! On the third day, Graded girls lost 1 game, meaning that they are playing a game for third place; Graded boys are undefeated, meaning they are going to the finals! Through Graded’s fast-paced rallies, gravity-defying jumps, and dramatic dives, Graded girls won fourth and Graded boys won second. Obviously, first place for the boys’ team would have been the goal, especially because of their undefeated run– but despite their unbelievable performance, they finished second in the competition. “I can’t be prouder of this team, all the effort my athletes put into this tournament. I am so very happy, also because it’s the first time I’ve ever been able to go to the SAAC finals,” says Celio Sacramento, varsity boys’ coach.
After SAAC, Graded participated in The Big 8 tournament, which includes 8 schools, having two sections, three sports happening for each section. The tournament happens at NR, 2 hours away from Graded, it’s a tournament that features international schools from Brazil, different from SAAC that features international schools from South America. Graded girls won second place, making them eligible for the Final Four tournament—a true achievement, especially since this is the tournament’s final year, meaning that next year, even if a team finishes in the top two, there will no longer be a tournament to advance to. However, the boys team ended in 5th. At the point in time, the boys volleyball team has been facing some commitment issues, mainly choosing studies over sport. Commitment has been one of our biggest challenges this season,” says Celio Sacramento, varsity boys’ coach. “It’s tough to build consistency when not everyone can fully dedicate themselves to the team. Although not having a lot of athletes, many would assume the boys volleyball team wouldn’t do very well but the team’s achievements quickly opposes this theory. According to Nathan Morris, a sophomore, “although we only had one senior and a few juniors in the team, which would’ve been easier to win, having more experienced players, I still very much liked it because it gave us sophomores more experience.”
In addition to Big 8 and SAAC, Graded participated in another competition: SPHSL (São Paulo High School League) contains 5 schools and its a year around league with games that are paced throughout the year. “It’s a league that you are most likely to do well in,” says Caroline Cushing, a sophomore, “you might have bad days but in this league you have the most chance to recover.” Both Graded boys and girls won second place.
This season, Graded teams frequently found themselves just short of the top spot, a phenomenon sometimes called “silver medal syndrome”—the bittersweet feeling of earning second place while knowing how close they came to winning it all. “Research shows that athletes winning second place often experience greater disappointment than those who finish third, because silver medalists focus on just missing first place, while bronze medalists celebrate making the podium,” explains Dr. Jane Thompson, a sports psychologist. “Understanding this helps coaches and players appreciate the value of every position and the lessons each can bring.” “In the end, it’s not about the medal you take home, but the experience you take with you,” says Celio Sacramento, varsity volleyball coach, “whether it’s first, second, or third, what matters most is that we played our best and had fun doing it.
As the volleyball season comes to a close, Graded’s athletes can look back with pride on all they have accomplished—through victories, tough losses, and everything in between. From thrilling tournaments to unforgettable team moments, this year was about more than just scores; it was about growth, resilience, and passion for the sport. “As captain, I’m proud of how far we’ve come this season,” says Pedro Macias. “Every match taught us something new, and even when things got tough, we kept pushing as a team. This experience has only made us stronger and ready for what’s next.” With the experience gained and the bonds formed, Graded’s volleyball program is poised to serve up even greater success in the seasons to come.
