East Rockaway Junior/Senior High School marked an athletic milestone on Feb. 5 with the debut of the district's first-ever middle school boys volleyball team. The squad opened their inaugural season on their home court with a commanding 4-1 victory over Woodmere Middle School.

The 18-member roster, comprised of seventh and eighth graders, is coached by elementary school counselor Lindsay Maleska. Being the first boys' volleyball team in the district is a huge milestone, Maleska said. I am so honored to be a part of building something new. It's exciting to see the sport growing and to be able to give kids more opportunities to connect to the community and represent their school.

The East Rockaway Junior/Senior High School gym was alive with school spirit as supporters filled the stands for the historic first game, roaring at every spike and set throughout the match.

The support from the community and district, as well as the energy from the players, has made this experience really special, Maleska said. This is just the beginning, and I'm excited to see where the program goes from here.