Volleyball Season Preview: Ashland County area teams look to take the next step

A preview of the area's volleyball teams:

Ashland Arrows

Coach: Jenise Vaughn, 19th year

Last year: 11-13, 5-9 Ohio Cardinal Conference

Letterwinners returning: Emma Valentine, senior libero; Brooklyn Schmitz, senior outside hitter; Lillian Pool, senior middle hitter; Jenna Hartson, senior setter; Ava Bond, junior defensive specialist; Katelyn Aber, sophomore outside hitter

Promising newcomers: Emma Paddags, junior middle hitter; Vivian Walter, junior outside hitter; Allison Ward, junior defensive specialist; Gabby Carver, senior defensive specialist

Potential difference-makers in 2023:

* Valentine returns as the Ohio Cardinal Conference Defensive Player of the Year who broke the AHS season dig record in 2022.

* The Arrows' 1-2 punch in middles Pool and Paddags and senior Schmitz can rip it from the outside.

Coach's comments: "Our senior class is loaded with talent and leadership. They are strong, multi-sport athletes who are hungry to leave a strong volleyball legacy and build lasting memories with their teammates. We bring a fun cast of versatile hitters, who can terminate across the net, and we could potentially have a different leading hitter every night."

Black River Pirates

Coach: Courtney Dieter, 13th year

Last year: 11-13, 4-10 Lorain County 8 League

Letterwinners returning: Riley Kubitz, senior middle hitter, setter; Delaney Nixon, junior outside hitter; Ella Warner, junior defensive specialist, hitter; Madison Jenkins, junior middle/right-side hitter; Kate Dieter, sophomore defensive specialist; Remington Dieter, sophomore libero; Morgan Kubitz, sophomore setter, outside hitter; Maryn Biddle, sophomore middle/outside hitter; Autumn Pamer, sophomore right/outside hitter

Promising newcomer: Sydney Czarny, freshman setter

Potential difference-makers in 2023:

* Riley Kubitz was a first team selection a year ago for the Ashland Times-Gazette, District 3, Lorain County and Lorain County 8 League, and the Lady Pirates Most Valuable Player.

Coach's comments: "The Black and Gold are looking to make a competitive showing in the Lorain County 8 League behind the powerful swings of Riley Kubitz, Nixon, Jenkins, Biddle, and Pamer, along with a solid defensive core of the Dieter twins, Warner and Czarny."

Crestview Cougars

Coach: Sadie Mullins, third year

Last year: 3-19, 2-12 Firelands Conference

Returning letterwinners: Audrey Oliver, senior defensive specialist; Kaylee Morrison, senior defensive specialist; Callea Shifflet, senior setter, outside hitter; Emily Weaver, senior middle hitter; Jillian Weaver, sophomore middle hitter; Kloe Morrison, sophomore setter, outside hitter

Promising newcomer: P.J. Endicott, junior outside hitter

Potential difference makers in 2023:

* Emily and Jillian Weaver are sisters who put in a ton of work in the off-season.

* P.J. Endicott has also worked to improve and earn her spot on the court.

Coach's comments: "We spent a lot of time in the off-season working on team unity and being able to play together, which is something we struggled with last year. We must work together because we know it's the only way, and I have 23 girls, which is helping us get a little more competitive in our own gym."

Hillsdale Falcons

Coach: Matti McFarlin, first year

Last year: 1-22, 0-14 Wayne County Athletic League

Letterwinners returning: Belle Dalton, senior middle hitter; Jacey Sermulis, senior defensive specialist; Ally Morgan, sophomore setter; Macy Mager, sophomore right-side hitter; Kennedy Fickes, sophomore outside hitter, defensive specialist; Riley Wagner, sophomore outside hitter; Willow Funk, sophomore defensive specialist

Promising newcomers: Mollie Goon, senior setter, defensive specialist: Lexi Repp, junior defensive specialist; Ella Davis, sophomore defensive specialist; Kiki McFadden, freshman outside hitter; Jillian Cowger, freshman middle, outside hitter; Jordyn Fickes, freshman middle hitter

Potential difference makes in 2023:

* Dalton is strong around the net with a powerful swing and should provide excellent leadership.

Coach's comments: "In just a short couple of weeks of being together, I see our team's fierce drive, desire to grow, and accountability to one another as being our greatest strengths this season. We are committed to bringing the best out of the person and championing the heart of the athlete we play, sit, and stand next to on the court, bus, and sidelines."

Loudonville Redbirds

Coach: Jackie Arnold, third year

Last year: 20-4, 10-0 in Mid-Buckeye Conference (champion)

Letterwinners returning: Payton VanSickle, senior setter; Olyvia Fenton, senior libero; Maddy Denslow, senior outside hitter; Payton Barnett, senior middle blocker; Sadie Kline, senior defensive specialist; Mikala Humphrey, senior defensive specialist; Chloe Ganson, junior right-side hitter

Promising newcomers: Maya Heffelfinger, junior outside hitter; Sophie Lee, junior middle blocker; Lily Carr, junior middle blockers; Rylee Kline, junior defensive specialist

Potential difference makers in 2023:

* VanSickle earned her 1,000th assist a year ago and could hit 2,000 assists by the end of this season.

*At libero, Fenton could get a lot of digs as the new centerpiece of the defense.

* Heffelfinger and Denslow are potential breakout hitters.

Coach's comments: "This is our last year in the MBC before moving to the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, so we hope to finish first in the MBC again. Our strengths include our energy and our enthusiasm. We have the ability to be positive and that helps our game. We also have one of the best setters in the area (VanSickle), as she finished seventh in Division III last year, earning 783 assists."

Mapleton Mounties

Coach: Wendy Dennison, third year

Last year: 6-16, 3-11 Firelands Conference

Letterwinners returning: Emilee Dennison, senior setter; Jillian Grundy, senior outside hitter; Breanne McKean, senior middle, outside hitter; Eastyn Rohr, senior libero; Rhyannon Schrader, senior outside hitter, defensive specialist

Promising newcomers: Taren Kramer, junior defensive specialist; Hallee Kamentz, sophomore middle hitter; Laila Davidson, sophomore right-side hitter; Lucy Hartley, freshman middle hitter

Potential difference makers in 2023:

* Dennison achieved 1,000 assists last season, is a versatile setter who is aggressive in the front block and is a strong server.

* At libero, Rohr covers a lot of ground.

*Schrader is a strong server and attacker, and in Kamentz is a major player around the net.

Coach's comments: "The team is a great group of students, athletes, and teammates who are very supportive of each other and enjoy playing together. We return five starting seniors who play well together and are great leaders. Our goals are to be strong competitors in our conference and in our non-conference play, continue to grow and develop as the season progresses, and build upon the successes we've had over the last few years."

New London Wildcats

Coach: Sarah Thomas, sixth year

Last year: 11-12, 7-7 Firelands Conference

Letterwinners returning: Emilee Rowland, senior middle hitter; Tara Davidson, senior right-side hitter; Jocelyn Speicher, senior libero; Madison Rowland, junior outside hitter, defensive specialist; Gracie Thomas, sophomore outside hitter, setter; Pailee Wilson, sophomore middle hitter

Promising newcomers: Ava Ringler. sophomore defensive specialist; Raeann Mitchell, sophomore right-side hitter, setter; Carlee Hess, sophomore hitter, defensive specialist

Potential difference makers in 2023:

* Emilee Rowland is a four-year player instrumental to the offense in the middle, along with being crucial defensively as a blocker.

* Thomas is the Wildcats' No. 1 setter and almost makes smart plays as a hitter.

* Wilson has worked hard in the offseason, becoming a strong hitter and blocker in the middle.

Coach's comments: "Our team's strengths will be our work ethic, and hustle, we also have very skilled players, and we are working to translate those skills into game play and run a quick offense. With most of our team returning, I expect to be toward the top of the Firelands Conference again this year. We are still young but we bring much more experience to the game this year with two, four-year letterwinners on the team, and many returnees who are used to playing in a highly competitive setting."

Northwestern Huskies

Coach: Becky Mitchell, fifth year

Last year: 12-11, 6-8 Wayne County Athletic League

Letterwinners returning: Ella Hartsel, junior outside hitter; Morgan Ervin, junior libero; Claire Buchholz, sophomore outside hitter

Promising newcomers: Alexa Riffle, junior setter; Kelsee Smith, sophomore right-side hitter; Julie Stoller, junior middle hitter

Coach's comments: "The WCAL is always tough and hard to gauge, even when a team may lose many letterwinners who have graduated as teams still have great younger players ready to step into the positions. We always look to finish in the top half of the WCAL and have a .500 winning percentage."

South Central Trojans

Coach: Sara Hohler, 10th year

Last year: 11-13, 7-7 Firelands Conference

Letterwinners returning: Gracelyn Lamoreaux, senior outside hitter; Chloe Prater, senior outside hitter; Angela Williams, senior middle hitter; Mya Inmon, junior setter; Ana Milavec, junior defensive specialist; Karinne Mitchell, junior middle hitter; Taylor Smith, sophomore defensive specialist

Promising newcomer: Autumn Fry, sophomore right-side hitter

Coach's comments: * This year we will be more experienced and quicker than we were last year. Angela, Gracelyn, and Chloe are pushing our offense to be more aggressive and senior Kendyl Beverly has been leading on defense. The girls are settling into their roles on the team and have really started to mesh.

"I think the Firelands Conference will be very competitive this year. We have great upperclassmen that have led well all summer. They have set high expectations for the season, and they continue to work hard to get better each time they enter the gym and weight room. As far as spreading the offense, we have multiple threats offensively, which make it harder for our opponents' defense to pick out who is going to attack the ball."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Volleyball: Ashland County area team-by-team previews