Vikings Volleyball Remains Undefeated, Claiming Back-to-Back NEPSAC Class A Championships
King School Volleyball closed out another dominant season Sunday, sweeping Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N) to win the 2025 NEPSAC Class A championship at Kingswood Oxford School. The top-seeded Vikings entered the final at 22-0 and riding a 59-match winning streak, adding one more three-set victory to secure back-to-back Class A titles and the program’s tenth straight New England championship.
The undefeated run marks King’s second perfect season in a row. Aside from one early loss in 2023, the Vikings have compiled an extraordinary 86-1 record over the last four years. In the five years since Head Coach Kat Pitasi and Associate Coach Stephanie Roones started together, the program has amassed an incredible 105-3 record.
“The 105 wins tell only part of the story,” said Dean of Athletics Micah Hauben. “The coaches have done an outstanding job establishing an environment of support, growth, and excellence, while instilling in the athletes the values of hard work, discipline, teamwork, accountability, and sportsmanship. The players, with the support of their families, have also committed to developing their skills and conditioning in the offseason through training and club volleyball participation. This year, the cohesive team culture created within the group, along with the growth of every athlete in the program, was remarkable. Their connection, focus, and dedication lifted them to a level of performance and sustained success that is incredibly rare.”
Though the Vikings entered the season having graduated some key players, the team never wavered. Senior captain Emily McKee ’26, an AVCA/MaxPreps Player of the Week, AVCA All-Region and Best & Brightest (GPA above 3.65) honoree, and Division I commit to William & Mary, credited the team’s shared accountability.
“Our practices are incredibly structured, with detailed handouts of practice plans, drills, timing, and focus points,” Emily said. “This structure helps us stay in the moment and focus on what we can control, instead of worrying about outside pressures.”
She added that the foundation for that focus was laid long before the first match.
“At the start of the season, the team meets to set both team and personal goals, which range from winning championships to smaller, everyday goals like making an effort to say hi to each other in the hall,” she said. “This combination of preparation, focus, and shared accountability is what creates the confident mindset that our team had this season.”
Fellow junior captain Caroline Curry ’27, an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and All-Region pick and UConn commit, said the team’s mindset entering the championship was built on such habits and a deep respect for the program’s history.
“We knew we had prepared all season for moments like this,” Caroline said of the postseason run. “There’s a legacy behind King Volleyball, but nothing is given to us. We still have to earn championships, even with a tradition of winning.”
From the start, the team’s primary objectives were to go undefeated and capture both the FAA league title and the NEPSAC championship. Halfway through the season, the team gathered to revisit and reaffirm that goal.
“We went even more in-depth with our team identity and what makes this group of 12 girls so special and unique,” said Caroline. “That really helped maintain our focus and helped us understand our team identity and team goals on a deeper level, which was an important check-in during such a long season.”
King’s postseason path included a fourth straight FAA tournament title on November 7, and straight-set wins over Winsor School and Loomis Chaffee School in the New England quarterfinals and semifinals. Against BB&N in Sunday’s final, the Vikings surged ahead early and never let up.
Pitasi said the continuity of high standards comes from intentional daily habits, including teamwide quotes to begin practice, clear goals for each drill, shared expectations, and traditions such as Friday dinners and traveling together to every match.
“Culture isn’t created through words alone,” said Pitasi, who also teaches math in the Middle School. “It’s created through habits. Simple things — showing up early, wearing the same practice shirts, entering and exiting every gym as a team — create unity before we even touch a volleyball.”
The 2025 team featured standout depth, with contributions from veterans and newcomers alike. Pitasi said the bond across the roster was central to sustaining excellence.
“Everyone plays a role, whether they’re scoring points or contributing energy, strategy, or spirit,” she said.
As Emily looks toward playing in college, she said she will lean on the habits developed in the King program.
“At the next level, when the pressure rises, I think having these small goals for myself will really help me stay grounded,” she said. “That mindset of teamwork and shared resilience is something I will definitely take with me.”
2025 Girls Volleyball Roster
Caroline Curry ’27*
Aniya Garcia ’29
Lucy Grabowski ’28
Kelly Karr ’26*
Clara Kulig ’29
Emily McAuliffe ’27
Emily McKee ’26*
Taylor Mehu ’28
Penelope Reiter ’26
Charlie Sisto ’28
Christina Stuart ’27
Mavi Triantafyllos ’27
*Captains
Coaches: Head Coach Kat Pitasi; Associate Coach Stephanie Roones; Assistant Coach Avi Thomas
Student Managers: Sophia Lasky ’26, Izzy Rabina ’26