Lake volleyball rebuilds culture and confidence after years of struggle

As the Lake volleyball team awaits its seeding for the OHSAA Division III sectional tournament, the Blue Streaks sit at 5-6 in the always competitive Federal League, with one conference game remaining — a rematch at GlenOak, a team Lake defeated 3-1 earlier in the season.

A win over the Golden Eagles would give Lake a .500 or better conference record for the first time since 2018, when the team finished 8-4, good for third place.

The low point came in 2023 when the Blue Streaks skidded to a 4-18 record, including a 0-12 mark in Federal League play. For the team’s 10 seniors, it was a season that tested their patience and resolve.

Senior libero and defensive specialist Luci Haddad described the year as “frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes discouraging.” Senior outside hitter Violet Seaman echoed those sentiments. “The ‘23 season was just a bad combination of personalities,” she said. “There was constant tension and a need to be perfect. It was a lot of frustration amongst each other and at coaches.”

Senior outside hitter Peyton Fritz remembers how her excitement about making varsity quickly turned into disillusionment. “We had so much hope before every game, but every single night we were disappointed,” she said. “The whole season just felt like a weight on your shoulders.”

That weight began to lift when Caleb Francis was hired as the new head coach. Now in his second season, Francis has brought energy and stability to the program, said junior outside hitter and co-captain Ayla Filisky. “Caleb’s arrival in the program was nothing new, as the program is used to getting new coaches,” Filisky said. “Yet he has been a huge difference-maker. The energy and belief he brought from day one was contagious. The overall vibe of the gym changed. He established a hardworking environment where everyone feels valued.”

Filisky said the change became evident early last season. “I would for sure say the first Federal game of the season last year,” she said. “It was our second game and first Federal League game, and we went out and beat Hoover.”

The improvement has shown up in every metric — from win-loss records to state rankings — but the biggest shift, players say, is cultural. “The culture has completely shifted; practices are sharper, expectations are higher, and everyone buys in now,” Haddad said. “He’s made us accountable to each other, and it’s really changed how we approach every match and practice.”

The team’s unusually large senior class has helped drive that change. Nearly all 10 seniors experienced the 2023 struggles firsthand and now serve as leaders to a younger group. “The camaraderie of the team has developed through highs and lows, both physically and mentally,” Filisky said. “It is truly special to have a bond with all 10 seniors, and it will be sad to see them go.”

Haddad, who suffered a severe sprain against Hoover on Sept. 18 and is working to return, said the group’s shared experiences make every game more meaningful. “Playing our final season with people who have been through it all makes every time we step on the court meaningful,” she said.

Still, the seniors are focused on leaving a lasting impact before they go. “It is so important to leave behind a legacy for the players that continue playing when we leave,” Fritz said. “Each and every one of us has an impact on the players younger than us, and it is our job to make sure it’s a really good one.”

That legacy could include a deeper postseason run. “This year we want to make a deeper postseason run than last year’s,” Seaman said. “Last year we got to round two, which is the first time that has happened in this program in about 15 years.”

As the Blue Streaks await their sectional tournament opponent for Oct. 13, the team’s focus remains on the bond that has carried them from frustration to faith. “I consider them my sisters,” Seaman said.