For Lasell University senior Sydney Katz, joining the women’s volleyball program was not the result of heavy recruitment or years of experience.
Katz was relatively new to the sport when she committed to Lasell, but what she lacked in experience she made up for in determination and drive.
“I wasn’t highly recruited,” Katz said. “I came to Lasell pretty much based on word of mouth. My club director was friends with Coach Jeff, and he told him I had potential. When I came on my visit, I just loved the atmosphere. Both matches I watched on my visit went to five sets, and I could feel how much the team cared and how invested the coach was.”
That sense of community has stayed with her ever since. Over four years, Katz went from a raw, athletic player to a two-time GNAC champion and a leader who helped shape Lasell into one of the conference’s most consistent programs.
“I’ve grown so much as a person more than I ever thought I would,” she reflected. “My ability to deal with adversity, to work with people, and to just persevere are things I couldn’t do as a freshman. As an athlete, I’ve developed real skills and confidence instead of just relying on athleticism.”
Katz says one of her biggest lessons on and off the court has been the power of mindset.
“If you believe you’re the best, you can be the best,” she said. “You just have to play with confidence. Fake it till you make it. It’s never too late to try something new or be successful.”
That mindset helped Katz navigate the ups and downs of college athletics, especially during Lasell’s rise to championship contention. She played a key role in the Lasers’ back-to-back GNAC titles, an accomplishment she describes as deeply meaningful.
“It means everything,” Katz said. “When I came in, none of us were that experienced. We built this program through hard work. Now we’ve put Lasell Volleyball on the map, and it feels amazing to know we created something great.”
Katz credits team chemistry and discipline as major reasons for the group’s success. “We weren’t all best friends, but we knew how to be great teammates,” she said. “We communicated well, played focused, and trusted Coach Jeff’s game plans. That made us really hard to beat.”
One of Katz’s favorite memories came during her sophomore season, when Lasell upset Regis College in the GNAC finals. “Everything just clicked that game,” she said. “We realized we could be a dominant program. That was the moment I thought, ‘Oh my god, we can take over the conference next year.’ ”
As her role on the team evolved, so did her leadership. Known for her communication and steady presence on the court, Katz embraced being a vocal and confident leader.
“As a setter, I see everything that’s happening,” she explained. “I talk a lot, preemptively, so there’s no second-guessing. If I do my job right, I can help others do theirs.”
Beyond skill and strategy, Katz helped shape a culture of positivity and support, grounded in a team mantra called Mudita, a Sanskrit word meaning happiness for others’ success.
“That’s something we’ve really tried to build,” she said. “When I was a freshman, we were young and immature. Now it’s all about team focus and being happy for each other.”
Now nearing the end of her final season, Katz described the emotions as “bittersweet.”
“I’ve put my heart and soul into this program,” she said. “I’m grateful for what Lasell Volleyball and Coach Jeff have given me. I’m sad that it’s ending, but I know it’s my time to move on to the next stage of my life.”
As for the legacy she hopes to leave behind, Katz says it’s not about awards or statistics.
“I want to be remembered as someone who supported everyone and worked hard so the team could succeed,” she said. “I helped build this program into what it is today. If I can show that hard work and confidence can take you anywhere, that’s enough for me.”
–Nov. 4, 2025–
