We sat down with ISZN Sports Director Karl Robbins to talk about the recent inaugural women’s volleyball tournament and the exciting trajectory of girls’ and women’s sport at the school. For parents seeking a holistic and empowering environment for their daughters, ISZN’s sports department is forging an exceptional programme.

This Inaugural Tournament Marks a Key Achievement for ISZN

The recent women’s volleyball tournament, held in Zurich, was an unprecedented moment for ISZN. Sports Director Karl Robbins confirmed that the event was a huge success, providing a great competitive opportunity for four schools in the region that hadn’t previously existed.

The tournament featured teams from schools in Berne, Schaffhausen, Rheinthal and Zurich. The competition was fierce, with matches closely fought and sets going either way in every game. Rheinthal ultimately claimed the top spot, with Zurich North finishing in third place.

Leadership and Talent Shine in ISZN Athletics

The tournament provided a platform for ISZN’s emerging talent. Leading the squad was the varsity captain, Sarah, from Grade 11.

Mr. Robbins highlighted her exceptional performance, noting that she led the team in both points and leadership on the court. She is recognized as one of the stars of Zurich North and is also part of the Swiss sporting excellence association, underlining the calibre of athletes being developed at ISZN.

Girls’ Sport is Accelerating at ISZN

The success of the volleyball event is part of a larger trend of expansion and accomplishment in girls’ and women’s sports throughout the school. ISZN’s dedication is producing concrete results, including a flourishing basketball program and promising signs for volleyball.

This growth builds on prior achievements, such as the Primary girls winning the national championships within the last couple of years and great performances in regional cross country running competitions. This expansion demonstrates that ISZN is a place where young women can genuinely explore and achieve in diverse sporting fields, with success even spreading to the skiing team.

The Volleyball Programme Cultivates Character Beyond Skill

The volleyball programme at ISZN is intentionally designed to be an inclusive setting that welcomes all levels of experience. The programme has been highly effective in bringing many girls together, helping them identify with the Ibex team and develop a lot of pride in the school.

For many participants, the sport was entirely new when they enrolled. This journey has proven to be profoundly valuable, instilling essential life abilities. As Mr. Robbins put it: “With many of the girls having not played volleyball before they joined this school, it’s really taught them a lot about resilience, what it takes to learn new skills, and what it takes to be part of a team.” Beyond collaboration, the program helps students build crucial traits like resilience, leadership, and discipline.

ISZN’s Sporting Commitment Balances Competition with Academics

Hosting events such as this tournament is a clear affirmation of ISZN’s dedication to student wellness and inclusion. Crucially for parents, ISZN ensures that competitive athletics are managed effectively alongside academic commitments.

Hosting tournaments and fixtures at home is a significant benefit because it means more people can be involved and has less impact on students’ academic time out of school. ISZN has seen huge success in recent years hosting major events like the national track and field championships, as well as several other fixtures across cross country, football, and basketball.

A Strong Outlook for Female Sport at ISZN

The achievement of the inaugural tournament is only the starting point. The Sports Director is focused on leveraging this energy to build a lasting and successful future for girls’ sports.

The immediate goal is to use the current momentum to create more training opportunities, more tournament entries, and ultimately give the team solid goals to work toward throughout the year.

The long-term vision is even more ambitious: to build on the success of the national championships (seen in boys’ cross country and basketball) by developing girls’ volleyball and basketball in particular. These three sports are seen as core components of a competitive curriculum that can see ISZN vie “nationally and internationally.”