Ursuline-Dedham welcomed visitors from Ursuline schools in St. Louis, Wilmington, and New Orleans to participate in the inaugural Sisters Volleyball Tournament.
At the end of September, Ursuline-Dedham welcomed visitors from Ursuline schools in St. Louis, Wilmington, and New Orleans to participate in the inaugural Sisters Volleyball Tournament. The Sisterhood Tournaments are a special tradition, beloved for bringing Ursuline students around the country together through athletics. At this year’s Volleyball Tournament, the students’ enthusiasm and energy was effervescent, demonstrated both on the volleyball court and in the hallways when other Ursuline students shadowed Ursuline-Dedham students during academic classes.
For Ursuline-Dedham specifically, hosting the tournament added an additional layer of sentimentality. Varsity captain, Ella Cusson’ 25, loved not only learning about the other Ursulines, but getting to proudly show her Ursuline campus and community. Ella remarked: “It’s so interesting to compare our traditions, to see which ones are different but also which ones are the same.” One of the Ursuline-Dedham traditions Ella taught the visiting students is the Serviam Fight Song, which the Dedham students sing at the end of Mass. While the song is uniquely Dedham, its lyrics about serving others and “Ursuline hearts unite” rang true across all the schools. Additionally, fellow Ursuline-Dedham captain, Phoebe Alto ’25, who has attended multiple Sisters Lacrosse Tournaments at other Ursuline campuses, added: “I’ve loved getting to visit and see the other Ursulines from the outside, but getting to be on the inside and letting the others into our circle of sisterhood has been so special.” Ursuline-Dedham Varsity coach, Kevin Goayette, was moved by “the camaraderie between the girls… and the genuine good will they have for each other.”
At the end of the day, the impact of the Ursuline Sisters Volleyball Tournament isn’t measured by which school won the most sets or what player had the most spikes. It is the friendships that are forged, the team spirit that is built, and the connections that are made that truly show the value of the Sisters Tournaments. The dedication to sisterhood shared across Ursuline campuses hundreds of miles away shows the deep commitment of Ursuline students to St. Angela’s vision and community. That spirit that will be continually embodied at the upcoming Sisters Basketball Tournament in St. Louis this winter and all of the Sisters Tournaments to come.