CSW Hosts Inaugural Pumpkin Spike Classic Volleyball Tournament
On October 23 and 24, CSW Athletics was thrilled to host the inaugural Pumpkin Spike Classic girls' volleyball tournament. Bringing together eight prep school programs from southern New England, the two-day event showcased high-level play, sportsmanship, and community.
Participating teams included: Berwick Academy, Hamden Hall Country Day School, Marianapolis Prep School, Montrose School, Mount Saint Charles Academy, The Winchendon School, Wooster School, and host CSW. Four of the eight participating programs qualified for last year’s NEPSAC Class C tournament, setting the stage for a competitive weekend.
"We've played in tournaments at the club level, but never in high school," noted Graysi ’30 and Sasha ’28 from the Hamden Hall team. "It's been a great chance for the team to bond."
Celia ’29, Kamarah ’29, and Syanne ’28 from Marianapolis Prep agreed, highlighting the distinctive atmosphere in the gym: "[It] feels different from regular games. More lively and more positive."
After two days of pool and bracket play, the field split into Gold and Silver division finals. In the end, Hamden Hall took home the Gold Division Championship, and CSW solidified the Silver Division.
"Wooster traveled the farthest to play in the Pumpkin Spike tournament, and it was worth every mile," said coach Jeff Carone from Wooster School. "Our girls had so much fun and really enjoyed the opportunity to play teams we never get to compete against. And the CSW community was so supportive and accommodating in providing a great environment.”
Congratulations to all participating teams, coaches, and organizers who helped make the event a success!
CSW — a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12 and PG — is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.