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Holmes area high school volleyball team preview

• August 10, 2025
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The high school volleyball season begins Aug. 15. Here are season previews for Holmes County area schools.

Hiland

The Lady Hawks will lean on their defense this season after losing a lot of last season’s offense to graduation.

Returning letter winners include seniors Alayna Yoder (M) and Brianna Mishler (S), juniors Olivia Miller (L), Claire Detweiler (OH) and Karli Schrock (M), and sophomore Addi Mast (OH). Promising newcomers include senior Macey Miller (DS), junior Braxten McVicker (DS), and sophomores Sienna Immel (DS) and Sophia Hamsher (OPP).

“Despite losing the bulk of our offense, we are returning a strong defense in Olivia Miller and Claire Detweiler,” fifth-year coach Kelly Miller said. “Sienna Immel looks to round out our strong back row. Brianna Mishler will command the offense as our primary setter. Addi Mast and Alayna Yoder will lead the offense, and we have high expectations for Karli Schrock and Sophia Hamsher offensively.”

Hiland finished last season 18-7 overall and third in the IVC South with a 9-3 record.

“The IVC always has great competition,” coach Miller said. “(I’m) looking for good games with neighboring rival Garway. Indian Valley and Tusky Valley always boast a solid squad.”

West Holmes

Second-year coach Amanda Humphrey-Heller is focused on returning her alma mater to prominence.

“This team is committed to bringing excellence back to the West Holmes volleyball program,” she said. “We have girls in place that want to make the sacrifices needed to make big changes in the program. They’re in it for the long haul, not just short-term recognition. They are learning what it takes to play high-level volleyball and are not shying away from the challenge.

“Last year’s graduating class only won seven matches each of their years in high school, with last year breaking the streak and winning eight. This program has only known losing for a long time. We have players who no longer want to accept losing and are willing to do what it takes to right the ship.”

Returning letter winners include juniors Mallory Marmet (MB), Rorie Wilcox (OH) and Mati Fair (S/DS). Promising newcomers include junior Lena Burgett (S) and freshmen Camrie Wilson (S/DS) and Kylin Kyte (MB).

“These girls are growing in their mental toughness and their work ethic,” Humphrey-Heller said. “They are learning that if they want to experience success, it comes at a cost. They have been working hard in the offseason in the weight room and in the gym to build a foundation that carries us into the regular season. They are hungry to experience success on the floor and are sick of being considered an easy win for the competition.

“… We are a young team. With only three returning letter winners, we lack varsity-level experience, so when things are tight, our inexperience may prove to be our Achilles’ heel. We are putting the girls in positions to build mental toughness every night to combat our inexperience that will inevitably play a role in our successes/failures.”

West Holmes finished 8-15 overall and fifth in the Ohio Cardinal Conference with a 4-8 record last season.

“With two Big 10 commits in the OCC along with some other higher-level club players, every night is going to be a battle for this team,” Humphrey-Heller said. “We will have to be prepared to lay it on the line every night if we want to be competitive. We must have short-term memories and accept that teams will get their kills but be willing to bounce back and get the next point.”

Garaway

The Lady Pirates are coming off a regional final appearance and are eyeing big things again this year.

“This year’s team returns a talented group of young players from our historic 2024 season, with many of them still only sophomores and juniors,” eighth-year coach Jessie Schwartz said. “We have one senior, Gina Beachy, who sets the tone for how hard we work in the gym every day. We graduated three accomplished seniors in Morgan Schlabach (MVNU), Cora Head and Kaitlyn Mast.”

Along with Beachy (DS/L), other returning letter winners include juniors Audrey Miller (OH) and Charlee Yoder (S), and sophomores Sydney Miller (DS/L), Kenya Njoroge (S), Quinn Schwartz (MH) and True Tango (OH). Joining them will be promising newcomers juniors Aubri Miller (DS/L) and Hailey Yoder (MH/OPP) and sophomore Kyleigh LaCroix (OPP/OH).

“Our youthful team loves to work,” coach Schwartz said. “They show up ready to go and have a desire to always get better. They are competitive kids who believe they can compete with anyone they’re on the court with.

“… We are still struggling to connect offensively on a regular basis. Our serve receive is an area that continues to be an area of focus every day in our gym.”

After finishing last season 22-5 overall and second in the IVC South with a 10-2 record, Garaway is looking to win the South crown this year.

“We have goals of winning the IVC South and are excited about how that schedule prepares us for postseason play,” coach Schwartz said.

Triway

Last year, the Lady Titans welcomed back coach Jacki Zody after about a decade break as head coach and got her second stint off to a great start. Triway posted a 14-9 overall record, including 10-2 in the Principals Athletic Conference, which earned the Lady Titans a share of first place with Fairless.

“Last season’s focus was learning offensive and defensive systems, gaining experience as varsity players — only four had lettered previously — and developing mental toughness in high-pressure situations,” Zody said. “This season, (we) have a large core of seasoned players, so our focus is more complex offensive schemes, controlling the tempo of play, and strong communication.”

The 2024 season came to an abrupt end when the Titans were upset in the first round of tournament play by county foe Northwestern. If that stung a little, there are plenty of players left to atone for it. Not a single letter-winner from the 2024 team is gone, leaving Zody with an impressive roster full of seniors, including seven with experience.

That group includes defensive specialists Payton Snyder and Tori Manley; middle hitters Sydney Frank and Audrey Walton, setter/DS Addison Vizzo, libero Reagan Underwood, and outside hitter Lauren Fishburn. Their classmates right side/middle hitters Parker Clippinger and McKalee Tipton are new to the varsity.

Outside hitter Mia Mariola and setter Taylor Mathis return as juniors, joined by newcomers Cierra Kemery (middle/RS) and Alexa Haddad (OH/DS). Freshman Pyper Hamilton adds one more outside hitter.

Walton returns as a first-team All-PAC performer a year ago, along with Underwood and Mathis. Mariola was a second-teamer.

“Settling into a comfortable rhythm early in the season will be key to achieving a large win total this year,” Zody said. “We play excellent competition throughout the season and hope to prepare for an extended tournament run.”

Waynedale

The Golden Bears had a solid season last year and were almost lost in the shuffle of a very good WCAL. Waynedale finished 13-11 overall, 6-8 in the conference, which put the team in a tie for fourth place. Ahead of them were two regional-qualifying teams as the conference continues to produce stellar squads with regularity.

John Finn takes over as coach of a team that lost just two players from a year ago and still has a mostly young roster. At the top of that list are seniors Kylie Keiser (L), Jorjia Persinger (RH), Callie Wolfe (OH) and Kimmi Swartzentruber (MH).

They will be bolstered by a junior class of setter Sydnee Beckler, middle hitter Bella Parry, rightside hitter Megan Weaver, setter Kensey Wolfe, and defensive specialists Mya Spittler, Caity Stasko, Taylor Streblow and Audrey Troyer. Sophomore defensive specialists Mya Raber and Olivia Suttle also will play roles, along with a pair of freshmen newcomers in outside hitters Izzy Matter and Olivia Parry.

“With another year of experience, this year’s team should be much stronger,” Finn said. “We should be very strong, both offensively and defensively. We have some excellent hitters and some very talented passers.”