MEET THE SENIORS
2019: Finished eighth in the Ivy League in digs per set (3.23)… Co-recipient of the team’s Player Award… Led the team with 268 digs… Appeared in all 83 sets… Tallied 17 service aces… Had a season-high 25 digs vs. Princeton in the Ivy League Playoff match.
2018: Appeared in 24 matches and 70 sets...Produced 17 service aces, including a season-high six vs. Alabama State on Sept. 14...Added 35 digs, including a season-high five vs. Dartmouth on Oct. 12.
2017: Appeared in 22 matches and 49 sets...Served up nine aces on the season...Produced a season-high 27 digs in a 3-1 win at Brown on Oct. 20...Had a season-high four aces in a 3-1 win over Cornell on Oct. 7...Had 35 digs and eight assists on the season.
Before Yale: Played for one of the top high school and top club volleyball programs, Marymount High School and Sunshine Volleyball, the same program of former Yale captain Tori Shepherd ''17...Named Most Valuable Senior and "Hardest Worker" for the Sailors in 2016 after being the starting libero for a Marymount program ranked fifth in California and 21st in the nation...Named to the 2016 Under Armour AVCA Watch List, Boyd was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Redondo High School Tournament...Named to the USAV 16 American All-Tournament team here sophomore year, Boyd has competed at every Junior Nationals since her 12-under season.
2019: Appeared in five sets.
2018: Appeared in 11 matches and 14 sets...Had five kills on six swings and hit .667 in a 3-0 vs. Brown on Oct. 20...Posted a kill in a 3-0 vs. Penn on Oct. 27.
2017: Saw limited action during her rookie season.
Before Yale: Played for Encore Volleyball and most recently Absolute Volleyball Club, attending USAV Junior Nationals every year dating back to sixth grade...In 2015, her team was the bronze medalist in the 16 Open division...Named Second Team Marin County Athletic League as a junior and First Team as a senior...Helped Redwood High School finish second in the North Coast Section and advance to the second round of the CIF state playoffs.
Notes: 2020-21 team captain
2019: Recipient of the team’s Coaches Award and co-recipient of the Player Award.
2018: Earned the Coaches'' Award after seeing increased playing time as a sophomore...Finished with 90 kills, 242 attacks and 53 total blocks...Had a season-high nine kills and added six blocks in a 3-1 win at Cornell on Oct. 6.
2017: Appeared in 16 matches and 47 sets...Finished second on the team with 54 total blocks as a rookie...Had 39 kills on the season...Had a season-high six kills and added six total blocks in a 3-1 win at Harvard on Oct. 14...Had a season-best eight blocks against Harvard on Nov. 3.
Before Yale: Competed at the highest levels in high school and club, competing for Torrey Pines High School and at the prestigious Wave and Coast volleyball clubs...A starter her sophomore through senior years at Torrey Pines, Spain helped the Falcons secure three straight CIF Championships, all years that they were ranked nationally by Prepvolleyball.com...Additionally, Spain has been a starter for nationally-ranked teams at Wave since 2013, with top 10 finishes in 16 and 17 Open.
SUCCESS
MEMORIES
"On senior night of our 2019 season, we played Princeton, who had one-win lead over us for the Ivy League title. Clearly, a lot was riding on this game. We started off a little slow but gained momentum and were able to pull off a 5-set win. In the fifth set we came back from a pretty big deficit. I think this memory sticks out so much because many of our parents and friends were there to watch and support. It was an emotional victory that led us to secure the title of Ivy League Champions. Another memory that sticks out is when we traveled to Los Angeles to play USC in 2019, a top-recruiting program. We took them to 5 sets, which I think surprised them but also just showed the grit of our program. We left our hearts on the court and although winning would have been a huge upset, the game really set a standard for the level of play we could achieve." - Yurika Boyd
"My class loves reminiscing about our game against Columbia in my first year when we found out that we had tied for the 2017 Ivy League Championship. Beating Princeton to win the 2018 Championship outright at home in front of a packed gym of our friends and family was another incredible experience that earned us a spot in the NCAA tournament." - McKenzie Cooke
"It is really hard to pick out top memories over the last four years because there are so many. The games where we clinched the Ivy League title three years in a row are definitely up there. I specifically think about celebrating in the locker room afterward and seeing the seniors so emotional. My first Ivy Title-clinching game may have been the best because it became clear to me the future this program could have and what my role could be over my four years. I think my happiest memories are also just being on the bus and at meals in different cities on travel trips. We really just have a good time when we are all together." - Chiara Spain
LESSONS LEARNED
"The most important lesson I have learned from Yale Volleyball is that I can control the controllables such as my effort, commitment to the process and to the team, attitude, and relationship building. These values have a strong impact on outcomes on the court and in life." - Yurika Boyd
"The most important lesson I've learned as a collegiate athlete is that every single member of our team - no matter their position or how much playing time they receive - is equally important in contributing to our successes. We all work hard every day and push each other to improve so that we can be prepared to face our opponents and win. - McKenzie Cooke
"I think one of the most important lessons that I have learned from Yale volleyball is about surrounding yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Individuals throughout this program have helped me to grow and evolve, exemplifying the type of teammate, leader, friend, individual etc. that I want to be. I hope to continue to surround myself with people like those in the YVB family." - Chiara Spain