Volleyball started at Summit School in 1935. However, it would not be until 1970 that the program was offered to girls on a yearly basis. The program has produced talented alumnae including a number who have gone on to play at the Division I level in college. In addition, the program has won numerous conference championships.
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Ann Luyten Dieperink '53 was a talented multi-sport athlete while at Summit School. She was captain of the girls' basketball team for three years, captain of the volleyball team one year, played field hockey, and was an impressive tennis player. In addition, Ann was the Vice-President of the Summit Girls Athletic Association during the 1950-51 year.
During the 1950-51 field hockey season, Ann and the team defeated Northrop 5-0 and defeated St. Mary's Hall 5-4 in their annual competition. During her junior year, Ann and her classmates defeated the sophomore team 7-0 and tied St. Mary's 2-2.
In tennis, Ann teamed up with Laura Floan Boone '53 to win the doubles championship in the annual Summit intramural tournament against fellow classmates during their freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years. The duo would also travel to play at the Rochester Invitational, the St. Paul Tennis Club and other private clubs in the Twin Cities by invitation. The impressive teamwork and skills that the two showed on the court was noted in The Flame for multiple years. In addition, Ann was a multi-year singles champion on the tennis court throughout her time at Summit School.
Jane Davis Bennett played field hockey, volleyball, and basketball while attending Summit School.
As a member of the field hockey team, Jane was part of a talented sophomore class which claimed the field hockey intramural championship during the 1956-57 year. As seniors two years later, Jane and the team were once again the champions with a 3-0 win during the 1958-59 year.
In volleyball, Jane and the sophomores defeated the freshmen team 28-26 in the volleyball intramural tournament before losing to the juniors 22-19 in the championship. During her junior year, Jane helped her class to a narrow win before losing the championship to the seniors in another close match. The team would go on to defeat the Northrop junior class 23-21 during the Summit-Northrop Play Day on February 12, 1958.
In basketball, once again, Jane and the sophomore team were dominant and defeated the juniors 26-5 and the seniors 31-9 to claim the intramural basketball championship. As juniors, Jane and the team not only won the intramural basketball tournament with a 25-6 win in the championship, but also defeated St. Mary's Hall when the team came to play Summit.
Jane excelled on the tennis court regularly winning statewide invitational tournaments in Rochester, MN with her doubles partner Hilary Raudenbush Magnuson '59. She was also an exceptional alpine skier.
Widely regarded as the best athlete in her class, Jane would have thrived in the post-Title IX era, which passed thirteen years after her graduation. Jane stated in an interview that “If Title IX had been in place when I was in school it would have meant everything to me. I would have pursued every athletic opportunity to the fullest. I would have wanted to do it all.”
