From Under the Radar to 5-2 - Girls Volleyball

TAUNTON GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

From Under the Radar to 5-2

How the Girls Volleyball Program Got to This Point

By Trei Mendes   |   September 28, 2026

Current Record

5-2

Taunton Girls Volleyball

Current Streak

4

Consecutive Wins

The Taunton Girls Volleyball program has reached a 5-2 record, including a current four-game winning streak. But the success of this team is about more than what appears on the scoreboard. Conversations with Head Coach Machado and Assistant Coach Esquil point to something deeper: a culture built on safety, accountability, consistency, and improvement.

A Safe Environment

First, talking with Coach Esquil, he described the environment as coming from “the little things” and “making this place feel like a safe place.” While talking with Coach Machado, she described “the standard the girls have set for themselves.”

What Head Coach Machado and Assistant Coach Esquil have driven into these girls is something that is very important to their success. They described it as being effective for the culture they are building.

“Making this place feel like a safe place.”

— Coach Esquil

The safe environment has formed friendly competition in practices, goal-setting, and wanting to come out of practice knowing they got 1 percent better.

How Does Culture Affect the Outcomes?

We see in great teams, whether at the high school, college, or professional level, that a great culture can lead to sustained and immense success. Both coaches view that as a key part of their success.

The Culture

“Holding each other accountable.”

— Coach Esquil

The best teams are formed from “holding each other accountable,” Esquil explains. Machado agreed, saying “culture has a role in making our program better.”

This is important because it shows that these girls want the best from each other, and that's what we are seeing from them. This is the culture of a successful team striving for the best, and the results are showing it.

Machado mentioned wanting to face “some really good teams” as the team prepares for a tough matchup today with the number 7-ranked Franklin Panthers, per The Boston Globe.

Facing the Challenges

Regardless of the results, the stretch of wins that the team has currently stems from one important factor that is present in this girls program: consistency.

4

Game Winning Streak

Sharon

Notable Opponent

Mansfield

Notable Opponent

Consistency is a word that has been repeated in this program, and that is what they’ve shown. Being on a four-game winning streak, consistency has gotten them to this point. They have played some notable teams, such as Sharon and Mansfield, during this win streak.

That is the consistency that has been brought from practice to the games. The results are showing.

“This stretch is going to make us a better team and that's what we’re looking for.”

— Coach Machado

Continuing the Level of Play

Coach Esquil and Coach Machado both said, “I am proud of every single player in this program.”

They are not just talking about one level, but every single girl in this program from grades 8-12. That is something to be proud of.

What's Next

There are tough matchups over the next week and a half that are important.

Franklin

King Philip

Attleboro

All they need to do is continue the level of play and keep elevating themselves, and the success will continue into October.

Final Thoughts

The story of Taunton Girls Volleyball is not simply about reaching 5-2. It is about the culture being built every day in practice, the accountability between teammates, the consistency being carried into games, and the commitment to getting 1 percent better.

With a four-game winning streak and important matchups ahead, the Tigers have an opportunity to continue building on what has gotten them to this point.

Taunton Athletics  •  Taunton High School