Jasmyne Fillippini knows her school record for single-season assists with the Plymouth North volleyball program is about to fall, but she’s happy her protege is taking the top spot.
With matches against Hanover and Weymouth left, as well as the upcoming state tournament, Blue Eagles senior setter Kam Kungo has 498 assists – just 13 shy of the record Fillippini set in 2023.
Kungo’s season totals are one of the best in Division 1, as well as in all of Massachusetts.
“It’s a little bittersweet that someone is going to break my assist record, but I’m happy it’s Kam,” said Fillippini who graduated in 2024 and now plays for Curry College. “She’s become a great setter. I’ve seen her play a few times this season and she has great court awareness.”
The two played together at Plymouth North for one season, when Kungo was a freshman and Fillippini a senior.
“What I remember about Kam as a freshman is that she was always happy to be at practice and was always looking to learn more about the game,” Fillippini said.
A setter is volleyball’s version of a quarterback. The offense runs through her, and she decides who to set the ball up for to get a big hit or whether to send it over the net herself.
That’s not pressure for Kungo. It’s more of a privilege.
“I love being involved in every play,” said Kungo about her favorite part of playing setter.
On Oct. 16, Kungo passed 1,000 career assists during a loss at Duxbury. Since then, the Eagles have gone on a four-game winning streak to improve their record to 12-7.
“I had no idea I’d get to 1,000 assists. No idea at all,” Kungo said, laughing. “I don’t track my stats and nobody told me I was getting close to it.”
Kungo started playing volleyball in middle school and came up to the varsity team as a hitter her freshman season. Fillippini traveled a similar path, starting as a hitter and then taking over as the starting setter during the state tournament of her junior season.
“I was a freshman during Jazzy’s senior year,” the younger player said. “I remember her as a very talkative leader who was constantly helping the younger players.
“She always got the team hyped before games and controlled everything on the court.”
As she started transitioning into a setter, Kungo said she would lean on Fillippini for advice about her new spot on the court.
Plymouth North head coach Jane Burt said Fillippini and Kungo are different types of volleyball players, but both use their skills to get them to an elite level on the court.
“Kam is more on the shy side and you will not meet a person more outgoing than Jazzy, but it’s what works for the both of them,” said Burt. “Jazzy’s hits are technical and precise. She knows exactly where the ball is going. Kam is an incredible athlete. She’s maybe 5-foot-4, but we could have her block at the net because her vertical leap is outstanding.
“She can get to the ball and make any needed adjustments on the fly because of her natural athletic ability.”
A three-sport athlete while at Plymouth North, Fillippini is as busy as ever as a junior in the nursing program at Curry College. The fall and spring seasons are filled with volleyball. And starting this winter, she is going to be the team manager for the women’s basketball team.
“It’s a lot, but I love being around basketball again. It’s all about finding the time to put in the effort” to properly balance academics and athletics, said Fillippini. “It’s hard at times, but if you really want to play a sport in college, the work is worth it.”
Fillippini reached a career milestone of her own recently when she recorded her 500th career assist with Curry volleyball.
David Wolcott can be reached at dwolcott@plymouthindependent.org.