Senior Gisele Jozwiak’s four-year career on Latin’s varsity girls volleyball team concluded at the sectional semifinals in November. As captain, she helped the team finish with a record of 21-14. With her season complete, her journey in volleyball—and what lies ahead—comes into focus.

Initially inspired by her sister Milana Jozwiak ‘21 reaching the state semifinals in 2018, Gisele began her volleyball journey at 9 years old, playing with the 1st Alliance club.

“I thought that the team was just so incredible to watch and was excited to be a part of it when I was older,” Gisele said. “I pretty much just followed in my sister’s footsteps and loved the sport.”

After playing with 1st Alliance for five years, Gisele left the club due to the competitiveness of the team.

“I knew I couldn’t keep playing club when people fighting over playing time or making the best team began to impact the relationships I had with my teammates,” Gisele said.

After she left club volleyball, she started playing on Latin’s varsity team as a freshman. According to Gisele, volleyball at Latin appealed to her because of its strong culture, which her previous club team lacked.

“Latin volleyball has been great because I can play competitively while maintaining strong friendships with my teammates,” Gisele said.

One of her teammates, junior Lily Dumas, who has played with Gisele for three years, described Gisele as a team leader and motivator during games—especially during moments of struggle.

“We [were playing] Timothy Christian, and we lost the first set. But then Gisele called us into a huddle and motivated us,” Lily said. “We ended up winning the next set.”

With Gisele graduating, moments of leadership like those will no longer come from the same place, challenging the team to grow in new ways. Moreover, Latin was placed into the 3A class in 2024—playing against tougher competition than in 2A—and will remain in this division through at least 2026, exacerbating the challenge posed by nine seniors graduating.

Gisele, alongside several other seniors, played a critical role in the team’s success this season. As a result, the team will have to adapt to a different playing style next year. “Plays that have a faster tempo will be hard,” Lily said, “because we will lose almost all of our front row.”

While Gisele’s on-court leadership will be missed, her mother, Tiffany Jozwiak, hopes she carries the lessons she learned through volleyball into the next chapter of her life.

“You learn the importance of showing up and not letting your team down,” Ms. Jozwiak said. “It is so rewarding to work with a team and build friendships and memories versus doing something alone.”

Gisele’s friends also cherish the memories they make together. Senior Gabby McDermott, one of Gisele’s closest friends on the team, spent three years playing with Gisele.

“Coming in as a freshman on varsity, she knew that she had to work really hard if she wanted an outside position,” Gabby said. ”I think that drive has really stuck with her.”

Gisele’s determination came up not only in her desire for an outside position, but also in-game. This season, Gisele played outside and middle back, positions which require a lot of power and quick thinking, according to Gabby.

“She’s very powerful, so when she hits, she hits hard,” Gabby said. “But she’s also really smart, so she makes some really good decisions while playing and gets us a lot of points.”

Not every game is smooth-sailing, however. One game against DePaul College Prep was particularly difficult for the team after losing the first set. Gisele’s successful ups (passes) in the DePaul game led the team to come close to winning the second set.

“Gisele was consistently making great ups and some really good hits as well,” Gabby said. “When we were down, she was a great support system to bring us back up to get back into the game.”

The support Gisele provided for the team secured her position as a leader. Gisele’s coach, Brian Woodhouse, who started coaching Gisele when she joined the team as a freshman, appointed her as captain at the end of the 2024 season.

"It's been a fun ride with a lot of growth and success,” Coach Woodhouse said. “She went from ‘the freshman’ to ‘the captain’ in more ways than just the name. She became a leader on the court.”

After her four successful years playing with Coach Woodhouse, Gisele said she will continue pursuing her passion in college through intramurals or club volleyball.

“Volleyball has been a part of my life for so long, and I truly love the sport,” Gisele said. “That love always keeps me coming back.”