Impressive Leap from Struggles to Success
In just its second year of competitive play, Derby High School’s Girls’ Volleyball team has defied expectations, making a remarkable leap from a challenging 1-19 record in their inaugural season to a balanced 10-10 finish in 2024. The team’s crowning achievement came when they qualified for the prestigious CIAC (Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference) state tournament. Although they were eliminated in the first round by North Branford with a 3-0 loss, their qualification alone marked a tremendous achievement for the program.
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Head coach Tara Dering, who has played a crucial role in shaping the team, expressed immense pride in her players’ progress. “This was only our second year, and we went from 1-19 in 2023 to 10-10 this year and made it to the state tournament. I’m incredibly proud of them,” Dering said. “Our goal for the entire season was to qualify for the state tournament, and we achieved that. For our seniors, especially, this was such an important milestone considering how young the program is.”
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A Historic Beginning
The creation of the Derby High School Girls’ Volleyball team is a significant milestone for the school, as this is the first time Derby has fielded a volleyball team. The idea was born when senior co-captain Brianna Kling, who had been playing volleyball since elementary school, approached Dering about starting the program when she was in middle school.
“I had Brianna as a student at Derby Middle School, and she shared her interest in starting a volleyball team,” Dering recalled. “We knew there were other kids who wanted to play, so we started exploring how to make it happen.”
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In 2022, a volleyball club was established, and after receiving approval from the Derby Board of Education and the go-ahead from the CIAC, the Derby Red Raiders Girls’ Volleyball team officially became a varsity program in 2023.
Dedication and Selflessness Fuel Success
Despite a rocky start in the team’s first season, Brianna Kling and her teammates were determined to improve. Kling, who earned second-team All-Naugatuck Valley League (NVL) honors as both a junior and senior, reflected on the team’s rapid development.
“Last year, we knew we had something special,” Kling said. “Even though we went 1-19, we believed that with time, we could build and improve. This year, with a 10-10 record and qualifying for the state tournament, we really proved ourselves.”
Kling attributes much of the team’s growth to their dedication and selflessness. “What really propelled us to success was our commitment to each other and the team. We worked hard over the summer, attending conditioning sessions and extra practices. We also had players stepping into new positions for the sake of improving our offensive system,” she explained. “Everyone focused on what was best for the team rather than individual performance. That mentality made all the difference.”
Leadership Shines Through
The team’s success in 2024 can be largely attributed to the leadership of co-captains Brianna Kling and Quin Gray. Both players were instrumental in guiding a team composed mostly of girls who had never played competitive volleyball before. Their leadership helped foster a sense of unity and accountability.
“Our seniors really stepped up as leaders,” Dering said. “In our first year, we focused heavily on developing fundamental skills, but we also worked on building the team’s culture. Despite finishing with a 1-19 record, there were a lot of close games that motivated us to improve. This year, we were able to beat a lot of the teams we lost to last season, and that showed a real shift in our mentality.”
Looking Ahead to a Bright Future
Looking to the future, Dering is optimistic about the team’s continued growth. Though they will lose six seniors, including the co-captains, the coach is confident in the strength of the younger players who will take the reins next season.
“This team was really special. All the girls had their own unique personalities, but they meshed together so well,” Dering said. “We’re losing some talented seniors, but we have some incredible underclassmen who are eager to keep this momentum going. There’s so much potential in the younger players, and I’m excited to see where they’ll take the program.”
As Derby High School’s volleyball program continues to develop, the foundation of hard work, leadership, and teamwork is set to carry the team to even greater heights in the years ahead.
