Spartan Girls Volleyball Makes History with First-Ever District Playoff Appearance

The Spartan volleyball team has made history at Milton Hershey School by advancing to the district playoffs for the first time. This milestone is more than a victory on the court—it’s a reflection of the values and commitment that define the MHS community, especially in a year when the School Pledge takes center stage as the school year theme.

Throughout the season, the team has embodied the words of the School Pledge. These words have guided the Spartans through every practice, match, and moment of adversity.

Jen Shirk, MHS Fourth Grade Teacher and Varsity Volleyball Coach, has been coaching volleyball at the school since 2015, starting as an assistant coach with the junior varsity team. Over the past four years, the varsity volleyball program has steadily improved each year, moving from a 6-13 record in 2021 to a 9-9 record in 2024. Coming into the 2025 fall season, Shirk and Assistant Coach John Zitko, Middle Division Science Teacher at MHS, sat the team down to set goals for the season.

“At the start of our season, we battled adversity and our 1-4 record showed that,” Shirk said. “Every girl rolled with the punches, remained positive and did what was being asked of them, no matter if they were asked to play a different position or do something they hadn’t practiced at all right before a match.”

The turning point of the season came during a varsity tournament in late August. The team won the tournament and played with dedication the entire time, showing themselves and other teams that they were setting high standards for themselves this season.

“They’ve learned to believe in themselves, believe in each other, and whenever you do those two things, you’re going to have success,” said Zitko.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the School Pledge, written by George Copenhaver in 1925. The 2025–26 school-year theme, Our Pledge, invites students to reflect on the Pledge not just as tradition, but as a personal promise to aim higher. The volleyball team’s historic achievement is a living example of that promise in action.

Members of the Class of 2026 on the team have played a crucial role in shaping the season’s success. Their leadership has helped elevate the team’s standards and inspired younger players to rise to the occasion.

“We have applied every aspect of the School Pledge, throughout every single day, and practice on and off the court,” said Mercy Bartune. “That’s what brought us together and made us a successful team. It isn’t easy to get to the spot that we are at, but we worked really hard, and we were committed.”

This season has also marked personal accomplishments for two of the senior players. Lucille Heuermann passed 500 career assists and Deonjanay Macon reached 500 career digs, a school record in the volleyball program.

“I am honored to have been a part of our volleyball family and to have witnessed its exponential growth over the past three seasons,” said Heuermann. “Though we’ve all faced many personal struggles both on and off the court, we’ve used those challenges, along with the support of our families and friends, to pull each other even closer.”

As the team prepares for the district playoffs, they carry with them the pride of their school and the legacy of being the first MHS volleyball team to reach this level. Their journey is a powerful reminder that when students live out the School Pledge, they not only honor the past—they shape the future.