Volleyball guide: RV's Jayne Klingel returns, plus other storylines for 2023

Jayne Klingel has a knack for retiring, but she struggles at staying retired.

The longtime River Valley volleyball head coach first left the position in 2010, but returned to the program and reassumed the top spot in 2015. She stayed at the helm and retired after the season.

However, she was talked back into coaching one more year, and here she is after a 12-11 overall record in 2022 and an 8-6 mark in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

"We lost Haleigh Creps, Morgan Nemeth, Janelle Hoback, Reagan Hummel and Eden Osborne," Klingel said. "Haleigh beat the kill record and blocking record (at the school). Morgan had 1,000 assists, and Eden beat the old dig record."

Without those standouts, Klingel will turn to letter winners Kendall Smith, Camryn Rogers, Carly Cerny, Madi Ward, Kennedy Hummel and Reagan Fitsko.

"(The) returning middle hitters are a strength, and we serve receive pretty well. Experience is our biggest concern," Klingel said.

Helping to fill out spots and roles for RV will be Emma Chiles, Sidney Osborne, Hayley Wickersham, Myla Kenney, Madelyn Cheney and Kathryn Longmeier.

"We are expecting to compete every night," Klingel said.

Here are four other interesting storylines to watch in 2023:

More: 2022 Volleyball Preview Capsules

1. Pleasant's development

In her first season as the head coach at Pleasant, veteran Kory Ute saw the Spartans go 13-12 overall, 7-7 in the MOAC, and earn a Division III district tournament runner-up trophy.

They graduated all-leaguers Lexi Olt, Maddie Aurigemma and McKenna Ambrose, but seniors being counted are Avery Malcom, Lily Hawthorne, Emerson Williams, Kendall Knapp, Maddie Ervin and Kylee LaCroix. Juniors in the lineup will be Madi Penleton, Sydney Smith, Marissa Rinehart, Kenzley Davis and Taydon Obenour, while sophomore Brooklin Davis and freshman Kamryn Cocherl will join them. They are a talented crew looking to take the next steps together.

"We had great finishes at tournaments this summer as well as the many familiar players returning and strong underclassmen," Ute said. "Our communication and on-court leadership are a priority this year. Continuing to find urgency with every play will continue to be a concern and a priority as well."

Pleasant will look to challenge MOAC heavyweights Highland and Galion, and the Spartans would like another crack at a district championship.

More: A look back at the 2022 volleyball prospectus

2. Highland's excellence

No volleyball program in recent years can touch the production at Highland. The Scots saw their league winning streak that dated back to October of 2012 ― yes, 2012 ― snapped by Galion, but Highland still shared the league championship with the Tigers for its 10th consecutive conference title. They also earned a sixth trip to the regionals last year, having reached the district finals for the ninth time in 10 years.

The Scots lost key contributors in Alexis Eausey, Brooke Schott, Zoya Winkelfoos, Anya Taylor and Allison McCafferty, but they still have a pair of All-Ohioans on the roster in juniors Kameron Stover and Larsen Terrill. The outside hitter and setter tandem will be joined by holdovers Camryn Miller, Savanna Sanborn and Mia Stacco as Miller is the lone senior on the team.

Logan Bradley, MaKaylee Merckling, Kendal Kline, Addi Mullins and Ashley Foster will add depth to coach Rob Terrill's squad.

With their skills and volleyball acumen, expect the Scots to again be the team to beat in the area.

3. Ridgedale's competition

The Rockets won the Northwest Central Conference championship in its first season in the league in 2021 and finished 5-2 last year in the loop after winning 13 games overall. Ridgedale will again challenge Temple Christian, Lima Perry and Upper Scioto Valley for league supremacy.

While they lost Grace Staton and Mya Brown to graduation, the bulk of the team remains with seniors Lauren Leslie, Lilly Ruth and Hannah Cook back after big junior seasons. Also returning are junior Brenda Scott and sophomores Mylee Mullins, Annison Jones and Hannah Murphy. Freshmen to watch are Madysen McKenzie, Camryn Thiel and Callie Comer.

"We work hard and get along well on and off the court," Ridgedale coach Tyler Clark said. "The girls are coachable and competitive. Our expectations are to compete with everyone every night and to learn from our mistakes to make us better. We expect to be in the top three in the league."

4. Cardington's encore

The Cardington volleyball team has enjoyed success unprecedented in its history over the last few years. However, multi-time All-Ohio hitter Audrey Brininger, all-time digs leader Cadie Long, career blocks leader Izzy Wickline, longtime setter Jadine Mills, plus Payton Goodman, Madison Linkous and Alexis Crone all graduated.

The next generation of Pirates ― Abby Ufferman, Lily Clark, Autumn Holt, Rhylan Furr, Kelli Landon, Genevieve Longsdorf, Kearston Dudgeon, Rylee Donkin, Madison Caulkins, Chloe Nida, Londyn Blevins, Alexis Longsdorf and Ashlynn Troyer — are ready to take over for coach Ryan Treese.

"They want to get better. They are going to scrap more than we have in years past. This team is fun to be around. They want to win and have fun," Treese said.

5. Others to watch

∎ Elgin could be poised to take the next step as a program led by senior returnees Katie Penry, Gracie Isler, Sierra Deal, Taylor Schoen and Madelyn Ruth along with junior Delainy Boles and sophomore Jordan Wall. Newcomers are freshman Maycee Muselin, senior Hanah Rhoades, senior Callie Mathews and junior Maddi Casey for second-year coach Alyssa Booth. The Comets were 8-15 overall and 2-5 in the NWCC and count experience, height and power at the net as strengths.

∎ Marion Harding coach Oliva Davis will lean on seniors Nyla Sharp-Holmes and Macie Cameron, juniors Ayla Longacre, Emily Ratliff and Jaela Woods. New to varsity will be juniors Sophia Pedraza, Kacee Whitaker, Miana Taylor and Cidnie Call, plus freshman Addie Appelfeller and senior Allure McDuffie. They will try to improve on their four wins in 2022 by making new adjustments to the offensive and defensive schemes.

∎ Megan Oder returns as the head coach at Mount Gilead with the hopes of rebuilding off a two-win season. Just three letter winners are back with sophomore Lindsey Ayers, sophomore Cassady Irwin and junior Olivia Long. Others expected to contribute are senior Darbie Dillon, senior Emily Mattix, senior Emma McDonald, junior Trinity Schrote and sophomore Anney Leonard. The Indians are a young and inexperienced group, but they are hungry to learn and will provide hustle on the court.

∎ Northmor has a new coach in Shelbie Wiseman, but the roster includes holdover seniors Maggie Brewer and Allison Sheriff, juniors Lizzie Erlsten, Mya Trainer and Makayla Suton and sophomore Hannah James. The Golden Knights were 10-14 last year and want to get back to competing for league championships in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference like prior years.

∎ Alexis Maenz is ready for her fourth season at North Union as the Wildcats are coming back from a 10-13 record overall and 4-6 mark in the Central Buckeye Conference's Mad River Division. Seniors Zoe Wedding and Sienna Ballinger are all-leaguers, while seniors Lindsay Willis, Riley Heminger, Emma Padovano and Abi Zimmerman are also returning. New to the varsity are senior Hallie Hall, freshman Katelyn Zimmerman, senior Kamryn Thompson, junior Makayla Cox, sophomore Kennedy Harrah, sophomore Lexi Willis and junior Audrey Baldwin. They are a versatile group for Maenz who bring a lot of volleyball IQ with them, so the expectations are high for an improved season.

rmccurdy@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Volleyball guide: RV's Klingel returns, plus other storylines for 2023