Volleyball Preview: Can the area's six league champs do it again?
If the 2022 season was any indication, area volleyball fans are in for another exciting fall.
With a host of talented players back for their respective teams, along with a host of squads eager to repeat as league champs, it should be another year to remember.
Wooster, winners of the last four Ohio Cardinal Conference titles, returns with Daily Record Player of the Year Sara Snowbarger and will look to continue its dominance in a league where it has lost just nine sets in their four-year championship run, including just one setback in the last two seasons.
The Wayne County Athletic League came down to a thrilling finish a year ago, with Smithville sharing the top prize with Chippewa, who earned a piece of its first-ever conference crown.
The Smithies have earned a share of the county banner in each of the last three seasons and bring back their entire roster from a year ago, including All-Daily Record selection Naomi Keib.
Don't forget about Waynedale who, despite finishing third in the rugged WCAL, marched to a district title and regional appearance with a good portion of its team returning, notably Alyssa Geiser and Meghan Miller.
Loudonville, the reigning Mid-Buckeye Conference Champs, will look to keep its control of the league going, while Tuslaw is eyeing a repeat in the Principals Athletic Conference after an historic 2022 season.
Hiland's dynamic duo of Ava Troyer and Ava Weaver are back to help the Hawks to another Inter-Valley Conference championship.
Best of 2022-23: All-Daily Record Volleyball
Here's a glance at each of the area teams:
Central Christian
Coach: Karmen Miller (first season)
Last season: 5-17, (4-6, fourth in MBC)
Returning players: Mattie Mast (sr., OH), Greta Patterson (sr., S/OH), Caitlyn Yoder (sr., OH), Sophia Rohrer (jr., MH), Katelyn Miller (jr., OH)
Newcomers: Sarah Miller (so., DS), Saralyn Stjernholm (so., DS/S), Maclaren Fry (so., S), Elliannah Rohr (fr.), Sommer Shue (fr., MH), Chloe Rohrer (fr.)
Outlook: The Comets will lean on some experience at the net to rebound from a tough 2022 season. Mast was the team's top hitter a year ago, averaging 1.5 kills per set, while Rohrer returns in the middle. Along with her hitting abilities, Mast is one of the more versatile players in the area as she also was second in the team in digs and serve receive. Central will also look to another veteran in Patterson to lead the way both setting and hitting-wise, along with at the service line.
Chippewa
Coach: Brittany Akins (third season)
Last season: 21-5 (12-2, WCAL co-champion, D-III district runner-up)
Returning players: Grace Telloni (sr., OH), Sky Regan (sr., MH/S), Mallory Mertic (sr., DS), Toura Speegle (jr., DS), Ava Panaciulli (jr., DS), Aira Regan (so.)
Newcomers: Allison Krummel (jr., RS), Maggie Fulton (so., S), Bree Regan (fr., OH/S), Lilie Kenley (fr., MH)
Outlook: After capturing the first conference title in program history last season, the Chipps have a handful of players back to defend it. Telloni had a breakout season a year ago, averaging 3.6 kills/set, while Mertic was among the top defensive players in the area with 6.2 digs/set. The tandem of Mertic and Speegle will be a tough one for opposing teams to get around, along with 6-foot Sky Regan being a presence at the net.
Dalton
Coach: Allison Hostetler (10th season)
Last season: 13-12 (6-8; t-fifth in WCAL)
Returning players: Victoria Oswald (sr., MH), Sydney Geiser (sr., RS), Madalyn Coblentz (jr., L), Maclain Stutz (jr., OH), Kendall Maibach (jr., DS), Lilli Ediger (jr., OH)
Newcomers: Jade Miller (sr., MH), Savannah Wenger (sr., DS), Courtney Weaver (sr., RS), Sophia Surmay (jr., S), Brenna Raber (jr., DS), Sarah Geibel (fr., OH)
Outlook: After a handful of district titles over the past decade in D-IV, the Bulldogs will make the move to D-III this fall. Once again, the team will lean on its defense as Coblentz was one of the top players in the area a year ago with 5.1 digs/set. That play. along with fellow backrow threat Maibach (4.1 digs/set) and middle Oswald (51 blocks) will make Dalton a tough team to score on this season. Look for returnees in Stutz and Ediger to be a factor offensively.
Hiland
Coach: Kelly Miller (third season)
Last season: 21-4 (11-1, IVC co-champion, D-IV district runner-up)
Returning players: Ava Troyer (sr., MH), Ava Weaver (sr., S), Haley Yoder (sr., OH), Allie Beun (sr., DS/OH), Grace Keim (sr., L), Lilly Goings (sr., DS), Callie Kaufman (jr., MH/OH), Lehla Schlabach (jr., OH), Caroline Malicky (jr., MH/OH).
Newcomers: Ellie Miller (sr., DS), Alexa Troyer (sr., DS), Josalyn Varga (sr., DS), Halle Shetler (jr., S), Addison Starn (jr., OH), Alayna Yoder (so., MH/RS).
Outlook: No tandem was more dominant in the area last fall than Troyer and Weaver and this season should be no different. Troyer was force for opposing defenses with an impressive 4.7 kills per set and 85 total blocks, while was an efficient as they get with 827 assists. Weaver is still working her way back from offseason foot surgery, but Shetler proved that she can do the job, giving Miller options this season. Like Troyer, Yoder helped that attack (2.9 k/s) and was impressive a year ago at the service line (67 aces) and on defense (401 digs).
Hillsdale
Coach: Matti Krispinsky (first season)
Last season: 1-22 (0-14, eighth in WCAL)
Returning players: Isabella Dalton (sr., MH), Jacey Sermulis (sr., DS), Allyson Morgan (so., S), Macy Mager (so., RS), Kennedy Fickes (so., OH/DS), Riley Wagner (so., OH), Willow Funk (so., DS)
Newcomers: Mollie Goon (sr., S/DS), Alexandra Repp (jr., DS), Gabriella Davis (so., DS), Kheringten McFadden (fr., OH), Jillian Cowger (fr., MH/OH), Jordyn Fickes (fr., MH)
Outlook: Morgan headlines a strong group of returning underclassman eager to help the Falcons move up the county standings. The setter not only had 337 assists in her rookie season, but also was the top server on the team with 27 aces. Another veteran in Sermulis will be looked upon to pace the defense again this, along with Kennedy Fickes. Dalton was the second-best hitter on the team in 2021 and will look to build upon that success this season.
Loudonville
Coach: Jackie Arnold (third season)
Last season: 20-4 (10-0, MBC champion)
Returning players: Payton VanSickle (sr., S), Olyvia Fenton (sr., L), Maddy Denslow (sr., OH), Payton Barnett (sr., MB), Sadie Kline (sr., DS), Mikayla Humphrey (sr., DS), Chloe Ganson (jr., RS)
Newcomers: Maya Heffelfinger (jr., OH), Sophia Lee (jr., MB), Lily Carr (jr., MB), Rylee Kline (jr., DS)
Outlook: Paced by one of the best setters in the area in VanSickle, the Redbirds will have some offense to replace from last season's 20-win squad. But if anyone can lead the way, it's the senior passer who finished 2022 with 783 assists, seventh-most in all of D-III. Loudonville will look to Heffelfinger and Denslow on the outsides to keep the attack going with the graduation of Ari Mitchell and Katie Seboe. VanSickle also was the team leader in aces with 99 and averaged 2.9 digs a year ago, while Fenton is expected to pace the defense.
Northwestern
Coach: Rebekah Mitchell (fourth season)
Last season: 12-11 (6-8, t-fifth in WCAL)
Returning players: Ella Hartsel (jr., OH), Morgan Ervin (jr., L), Claire Buchholz (so., OH)
Newcomers: Alexa Riffle (jr., S), Jule Stoller (jr., MH), Kelsee Smith (so., RS)
Outlook: Both Hartsel and Buchholz stepped up for the Huskies last season offensively and each will be go-to options for the team this fall. While the hitting tandem both averaged 2.4 kills per set and will look to pace the attack, they also were 1-2 on the team in service aces — Hartsel with 49 and Buchholz with 35. A first-year setter in Riffle will look to keep that offense going, while Ervin had nearly 300 digs a year ago for a team that lost some key pieces in the offseason.
Norwayne
Coach: Heidi Hartzler (second season)
Last season: 12-12 (7-7, fourth in WCAL)
Returning players: Reese Ingold (sr., L), Anna Metsker (sr., OH), Renee Haven (sr., S), Lexi Hershberger (jr., MH), Ava Maibach (so., OH)
Newcomers: Brookelyn Maxwell (sr., OH), Paige Pazicni (jr., MH), Kaitlyn Graces (jr., DS), Grace Wolf (jr., MH), Kendra Berger (jr., DS), Cherish Bell (so., OH/DS), CJ Moore (so., S), Reece Urban (so., OH)
Outlook: An offseason injury to their top returning hitter in Maibach will have the Bobcats turning to a mix of veterans and varsity rookies to fill in the void. Good news for Norwayne is that the team brings back two of its top backrow defenders in Ingold (4.9 digs/set) and Metsker (3.8), along with Hershberger controlling things at the net. Metsker should also be a key factor in the attack, along with newcomers like Bell and Urban all providing some strength on the outside.
Orrville
Coach: Hillary Plybon (fifth season)
Last season: 12-13 (9-5, t-third in PAC-7)
Returning players: Natalie Dalton (sr., DS), Katelyn Malcuit (jr., OH), Aiiiya Tuggle (jr., S), Maddie Warner-Orr (jr., DS)
Newcomers: Abby Gonzales (jr., MH/OH), Mia Miller (jr., DS), Mya Simmavanh (jr., S/DS), Emma Nickles (so.), Hannah Croskey (so.)
Outlook: With the loss of its top hitters from a year ago, including All-Daily Record selection Averi Haley, the Red Riders will lean on its experience in other areas to stay among the top teams in the PAC. Tuggle had an impressive sophomore season with 627 assists and 57 ace serves and will be looked upon to lead the way once again. Malcuit will be one of the returnees looked upon to fill the void left by Haley in the attack, while Warner-Orr is expected to pace the defense.
Rittman
Coach: Bethany Marcum (first season)
Last season: 6-17 (2-12; seventh in WCAL)
Returning players: Gabbie Swartz (sr., OH/MB/DS), Kendall Fosen (sr., S/RS), Ashley Ruffener (sr., DS), Rebecca Hartzler (so., OH/DS), Allyson Stuart (so., OH/DS), Madison Beltz (so., DS), Mackenzie Beltz (so., S)
Newcomers: Abigail Hill (so., OH/RS/DS), Ryver Ramsier (fr., MB)
Outlook: A pair of three-year starters in Swartz and Fosen will prove to be a key for a Rittman team under the direction of first-year coach Marcum. Swartz, an All-Daily Record selection last fall, is coming off a season in which she averaged 3.6 kills per set, along with 3.4 digs and a team-best 38 aces. Feeding the ball to Swartz was Fosen, who dished out 266 assists, along with 30 ace serves of her own. Beltz also is back after 207 digs and 153 assists in her first season.
Smithville
Coach: David Yoder (second season)
Last season: 20-5 (12-2, WCAL co-champion)
Returning players: Angelina Yates (sr., MH/OH), Breanne Fatzinger (sr., OH/RS), Cadence Amstutz (sr., DS), Maddy Lengacher (sr., L), Naomi Keib (sr., MH), Vea Baney (sr., DS), Caitilin Walsh-Knouff (jr., OH/MH/RS), Madi Singer (jr., OH/MH/RS), Peyton Bohley (jr., MH), Taryn Fath (jr., S), Kiersten Ross (so., MH), Leah Keib (so., S/RS), Molly Torrence (so., DS), Morgan Shutt (so., OH/DS)
Newcomers: Kendall Amstutz (so., S/RS), Faith Lengacher (fr., OH)
Outlook: With its entire roster from a year ago back, it's fair to say that the Smithies are a strong favorite in both the WCAL and D-III Northeast District. Keib emerged as the best hitter in the area, and the state, last season with 480 kills and a school-record 100 blocks as she earned second team All-Ohio. Setting the table to Keib is Fath, another program record-holder who dished out 932 assists in 2022. On defense, both Maddy Lengacher and Yates averaged nearly four digs per set last fall, while Fatzinger and Singer have over 30 aces.
Triway
Coach: London Gilbert (second season)
Last season: 19-6 (12-2, second in PAC-7)
Returning players: Emma Corbett (sr., MH/OH), Kaylee Davis (sr., OH/DS/S), Mia Dubendorfer (sr., L), Presley Hamilton (sr., OH), Hanna Massaro (sr., MH/OH/DS), Lexi Starr (sr., MH/OH)
Newcomers: Audrey Walton (so., OH/MH), Taylor Mathis (fr., S)
Outlook: Replacing the production of All-Daily Record selections like Jaymes Gilbert won't be easy, but several Titans are poised to step up. Davis was right behind Gilbert in kills, while Corbett had was second in total blocks, making the two seniors a force at the net this fall. Along with hitting, Davis is expected to take on some of the setting duties from recent grad Mallory Fluharty, dishing the ball to other returning hitters like Starr.
Tuslaw
Coach: Aimee Burgess (first season)
Last season: 22-4 (13-1, PAC-7 champion, D-III district runner-up)
Returning players: Aaliyah Hankison (sr., DS/L), Katelyn Eberhardt (sr., MH), Ashley Eberhardt (sr., OH/DS), Alissa Maier (sr., OH), Kendall Reichard (sr., DS/L), Hailey Conrad (jr., MH), Danica Crescenze (jr., S)
Newcomers: Lillian Twining (sr., RH), Abby Cooper (jr., RH), Jade Weisel (so., DS/S), Kamdyn Dibell (fr., MH)
Outlook: Burgess, a former Triway assistant, takes over a Mustangs program coming off of an historic 2022 season. And while the team suffered lost some key players from that team to graduation, it returns a lot of talent eager to stay atop the PAC. Eberhardt was one of the most efficient hitters a year ago, slamming 3.1 kills per set from the rightside and posting 57 total blocks in the middle. She also had a team-best 40 aces. Crescenze is also back after dishing out 394 assists, while Reichard and Conrad are key players on defense.
Waynedale
Coach: Jen Lauber (fifth season)
Last season: 20-7 (11-3, third in WCAL, D-III district champion)
Returning players: Alyssa Geiser (sr., MH/DS), Audrey Rowe (sr., L/DS), Addesa Miller (sr., OH/DS), Meghan Miller (sr., S/L), Kylie Geiser (so., DS/L), Callie Wolfe (so., OH/DS), Jorjia Persinger (so., OH)
Newcomer: Isabella Parry (fr., MH/S)
Outlook: It was a magical postseason run for the Golden Bears, who earned a trip to the regional semifinals last fall. The good news for Waynedale fans is that much of that roster is back, led by a strong senior class. Alyssa Geiser and Addesa Miller both were threats at the net and should be there once again, while Addesa Miller and Meghan Miller were among the top defensive players in the area. Meghan Miller also had 200 assists last season and was a force at the service line. This team also has talented underclassman in Kylie Geiser and rookie Parry that will players to watch.
West Holmes
Coach: Hanse Cromer (second season)
Last season: 7-17 (5-9; t-fifth in OCC)
Returning players: Zaylie Shultz (sr., OH), Sophie Oliver (sr., OH/DS), Allie Snyder (jr., OH)
Newcomers: Taelor Patterson (sr., MB), Brooklyn Lydic (jr., MB), Jasi Weber (jr., DS), Greta Rolince (jr., OH), Maggie Ryan (so., S)
Outlook: The Knights will be leaning on their ability to control the ball and defend to work their way into the upper half of the OCC. Both Schultz and Snyder are expected to pace the attack from the outside, with Oliver controlling things at libero. With just two returning letterwinners, Cromer will lean on first-year players like Patterson and Lydic in the middle, along with Rolince on the outside, Ryan at setter and Weber playing as a defensive specialist to round out the lineup.
Wooster
Coach: Jen Snowbarger (21st season)
Last season: 19-5 (14-0, OCC champion)
Returning players: Megan Lantis (sr., OH), Jillian Mann (sr., S), Grace Jones (jr., RH), Sara Snowbarger (so., OH)
Newcomers: Tori Pettorini (sr., DS), Josie Wright (sr., MH), Emily Boyd (jr., DS), Kylie Timko (jr., RH), Brooklyn Noletti (jr., MH), Bri Hewitt (so., S), Maddy Lee (so., MH), Lucy Franks (so., OH)
Preview: Behind the strength of returning players like Snowbarger and Lantis, the Generals are expected to make a run at another OCC championship this fall. Snowbarger was dominant right away as a freshman with a 5.5 kills/set and a 0.322 hitting percentage, along with 4.6 digs and 45 aces. That production was complemented nicely by Lantis' 3.9 kills/set. While recent graduate Marin Dixon will be tough to replace at setter, Wooster has both Mann and Hewitt looking to fill the void. The addition of Wright, a Northwestern transfer, should help in the middle.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Volleyball: a team-by-team preview of the 2023 season
