ISF U14 Volleyball Victory!
We come with very good news! On May 22nd, our U14 volleyball teams traveled to their GISST competitions, and made ISF history!
BOYS
Our U14 Boys Volleyball teams competed in their annual GISST Tournament hosted by St. George’s International School. For the first time in program history, we entered the tournament with two teams—a testament to the growing strength and enthusiasm for volleyball among our students.
Our first team, led by standout middle blockers Leopold Steinmetz and new addition Alex Dai, went undefeated throughout the tournament and brought home the gold, capping off an incredible season in which they remained unbeaten in every match they played. Their dominance on the court was matched by their composure and teamwork, especially in the finals where they defeated BERIS in three sets.
Our second team, guided by first-year player Yuma Kajino, showed impressive growth and resilience. Many of their matches went to three sets, and they battled every point with teamwork and determination. Their positive attitude, sportsmanship, and unwavering spirit earned them the Sportsmanship Award for Fair Play—an honor that reflects the values we strive to instill in all our athletes.
Bringing home two trophies from a single tournament—one for championship gold and one for sportsmanship—is an outstanding achievement. We are incredibly proud of every player involved, and we’re excited to see how these young athletes continue to grow in the sport.
GIRLS
At the end of May, our U14 girls’ volleyball team travelled to Erlangen to compete in the GISST tournament. Out of 13 teams, our girls finished in an impressive 4th place, a result that reflects their hard work, growth, and strong team spirit.
Throughout the group stage, the team showcased teamwork, resilience, and skill, winning 5 out of their 6 matches. We started the first day winning our first match in two sets what gave us the push we needed for the day. Our second match was very challenging, and we lost it in 2 sets against the Bavarian team that later would finish in second place overall. The rest of the day gave us another two victories that left us second in our pool. On Saturday, our Bulldog girls took the remaining 2 matches played at 3 sets, putting us in a very comfortable 2 position. With these results we got a place in the medal match for 3rd place where they faced Beris International. Despite giving their all, the match ended in a tough loss in two sets. Nevertheless, the girls played with heart and sportsmanship throughout, making us incredibly proud.
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Like any competitive tournament, there were highs and lows — but what truly stood out was the team’s ability to gather strength during the tough moments, support one another, and keep pushing forward with determination and unity. Getting 4th place, same as last year, shows the consistency in the work they are doing every week.
Special recognition goes to standout players: our captain Isabella Brand, Gaya Louage and Kiyomi Woods, who each played a crucial role in the team’s success with their leadership, consistency, and determination on the court. We also want to highlight the dedication of returning players Lea Huep and Francesca Paoloni. A big congratulations as well to Michelle Schafei, An Tsukamoto, Fernanda Oliveira, Natalie Vo, and Andrea Ramirez, who participated in their very first volleyball season. Their enthusiasm, improvement, and team spirit were inspiring and promising for the future.
Also, thank you to the girls that without being part of the GISST team, showed every week for practice, making these season a success with 20 players enjoying this sport.
We are extremely proud of the entire team for their achievements and the positive attitude they brought to every game. We look forward to continuing to work with these talented girls next season as they keep growing. Well done, girls! Let’s go Bulldogs!
Ms. Burgos and Ms. Treppenhauer
