All-Ohio trio leads Monroeville

Nov. 10—MONROEVILLE — Kendra Snook just wasn't sure.

The longtime head volleyball coach at Monroeville knew there was talent returning from a program that had been to three straight regional championship matches and two trips to the state semifinals.

But some of the top players in program history had just graduated from the two years before. Some things were going to have to really come together if the Eagles were going to again get by the likes of Buckeye Central and St. Paul in both the regular season and tournament.

"I was hoping we could compete and continue to get a little bit better with each match," Snook said. "But instead, we got a lot better."

That's one way of putting it.

The Eagles lost twice in five days to end the regular season and did not win a share of the Firelands Conference. But once the Division IV state tournament began, they haven't looked back.

Monroeville has won five straight tournament matches, including four consecutive 3-0 sweeps to return to the state semifinals for a third time in four seasons.

The No. 14-ranked Eagles (23-4) face No. 6 St. Henry (21-6) at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University in Fairborn.

"It's been so fun," senior setter Hannah Lyons said. "It's been the most fun I've ever had these last four years. We're excited to go down there again and hopefully we come back differently from our last trips there."

And though it may sound cliché, the Eagles returned to state by getting help from all the key places on the court once again.

Help at the net

Most everyone knew what Monroeville had in senior hitter Graisyn Yoder. She was already a three-year starter and had played in state semifinal losses to New Bremen in 2018 and 2019.

But the Eagles graduated standout Kylee Brooks along with Reece Kluding and Lydia Landoll at the net. A new face was going to have to emerge.

Enter Maddie Daniel.

The junior has not only become a key starter for the Eagles, but went from 210 kills in 2020 to a staggering 466 entering Thursday's match. She earned All-Ohio honorable mention on Sunday.

How did this happen?

"We did a lot of lifting in the preseason," Daniels aid. "Graisyn and I pushed each other to work very hard and we were doing more than the average drills. We focused on specific things, so I feel like that helped."

The dynamic between Yoder, who was All-Ohio first team and has a program record 525 kills, and Daniel is one of helpfulness. Yoder tells Daniel where to hit, and vice versa.

"Maddie helps balance things out," Yoder said. "When she comes in, we never lose that fire. She knows where to hit and she can put it down. When one of us in the back row, we can see the court better than whoever is in the front row who is hitting the ball.

"It's helpful to know where the open spots are and where we can put the ball down to get points."

Snook said she maybe could have believed Daniel may have the season she has had to date. With the depth the Eagles have had in the front row, Daniel was a bit overshadowed.

"We knew how good she was two years ago," Snook said. "She didn't get a lot of time, but traveled with us to state as a freshman. Last year she got a lot more reps, but was around all those other big power hitters still. We knew with the graduation of those hitters that a lot of the weight would be shifted to her and Graisyn, and Maddie has responded.

"We've seen how she's developed both offensively and defensively," she added. "Maddie fun to watch, and she jumps so well. People don't expect her to get up there and hit the ball so hard. You can tell she just really loves the sport. She has been a pleasant surprise, but not a total shocker."

Set it up

Lyons was tasked with taking over for one of the greatest setters in program history after Camryn Hedrick graduated following the 2019 season.

With just 20 assists to her name entering her junior season in 2020, all Lyons has done is set 960 assists last year and has 967 this season entering Thursday.

Those numbers earned Lyons All-Ohio second team, giving the Eagles a trio of all-state players, along with Daniel and Yoder, for the first time in program history.

"I can't even ask for anything better," Daniel said of Lyons' setting abilities. "All I tell her is a letter or a number and she puts it right in the perfect spot — every single time. I don't have many words to describe it, other than it's so good."

Yoder said it comes down to Lyons' knowledge of her position.

"Hannah is an amazing setter," Yoder said. "She has gotten a lot better every year. Whether she tips or sets the ball, she knows what she is doing, and there is a lot to be said for that aspect of setting.

"She has faith in all her hitters and knows what to do."

But for her part, Lyons said that is easy to do at times.

"If Graisyn is in the front row, I'm trying to get her the ball, and the same if I see Maddie there," she said. "If there is a free ball, then it's the best possible outcome ... that's when I know there is a good chance we're about to score."

Experience matters

Having played in the two state semifinal matches as a freshman and sophomore, Yoder said her goal is to keep her own nerves calm as much as possible.

"So that I make sure my teammates aren't nervous to play in a bigger arena as well," she said. "I know how they are feeling. I was a freshman there and it was overwhelming, so I think I'll be trying to keep my nerves down as an example to everyone else on the team who hasn't experienced it yet."

Snook said she is counting on that experience along with Lyons, Daniel, and junior libero Lilly White (500 digs). Lyons didn't get a ton of court time in the five-set loss to New Bremen in 2019, but has played at the Nutter Center nonetheless.

Both Daniel and White traveled with the team as freshmen, though they did not appear in the match.

"Just having that experience with Graisyn and Hannah being down there twice, and with Maddie and Lilly traveling with us — those would be our four anchors at key positions," Snook said. "It's nice to have that experience down there, and their leadership is phenomenal. I think they will continue to shine with that leadership role and help their teammates relax and just be able to play."

That leadership is also why Snook believes her team clicked together at the right time.

"Our whole mentality changed about halfway through the year," she said. "We talked to them about how we're going to play hard, but we're also going to have fun and enjoy being out here together, because it is just a game.

"That has changed my coaching philosophy to them and they've responded and been playing for each other and together," Snook added. "It's not about "me," it's about the team. That has helped them and our success."