Local volleyball standouts earn top Stark County honors

As the volleyball season winds down, a new season begins — awards season. Right on cue, the Stark County volleyball awards were released and, as expected, schools in the Hartville News readership area were well-represented.

Both the Blue Streaks and Dukes boasted the Offensive Player of the Year in their respective divisions, as Lake’s outside hitter Ayla Filisky was bestowed the award for Division III and Marlington’s senior setter Cali Young won in Division III. Filisky, a junior, averaged 3.0 kills per set with a hitting percentage of .264 while also leading the Blue Streaks with 47 serving aces. Young totaled a whopping 768 assists for the Dukes and also was second in blocks with 30.

Lake Center Christian did those teams one better in Division VI as the Tigers claimed the Offensive Player of the Year in sophomore middle hitter Lilly Kane as well as the Defensive Player of the Year in defensive specialist/libero Kamden Maninga. Kane led Lake Center with 375 kills, a hitting percentage of .271 and 32 total blocks, while Maninga collected 359 digs and 268 receptions.

Meanwhile, Caleb Francis was named Coach of the Year for Division III in leading the Blue Streaks to another winning season following a 4-18 mark in 2023. For the second consecutive year, Lake finished with a 12-10 record and made a second-round appearance in the OHSAA tournament. In Division VI, Lake Center Christian’s Hannah Miller was named Co-Coach of the Year along with two other coaches after leading the Tigers to a 13-8 mark and a district final appearance.

First-team recipients for Lake include three seniors — Peyton Fritz (OH), Luci Haddad (DS/L) and Olivia Nehlen (DS/L). Fritz led the Blue Streaks with 224 kills, or 3.1 kills per set. Haddad collected 280 digs and 233 receptions, while Nehlen racked up 305 receptions and 149 digs.

Named to the second team were Sydney Hedrick (S), Adella Coblentz (DS) and Violet Seaman (OH). Hedrick led Lake with 377 assists and was second with 45 aces, Coblentz registered 241 receptions, and Seaman logged 36 blocks while also being third on the team in kills with 77. One Blue Streak received honorable mention accolades — junior opposite/outside hitter Paige Pribanich, who led the team with 37 blocks.

In Division IV, Marlington, which won a regional championship and is in the hunt for a state title, had two players named to the Stark County first team — junior Danica Sarchione (OH/DS) and senior Giana Bogunovich (OH/DS). Sarchione led the Dukes with 397 kills, 277 digs and 83 aces, while Bogunovich was second in kills (262), aces (59) and third in digs (194).

Junior middle blocker Justine Doringo and senior Amiiah Sickles (DS/L) were conferred second-team honors, while junior Reese Hagan (DS) received honorable mention recognition. Doringo led Marlington with 45 blocks and also in hitting percentage (.264) while delivering 117 kills. Sickles was No. 1 in receptions with 494 and second on the team in digs with 246.

Lake Center Christian had one player named to the Division VI first team, senior Mikenna Slayman (S), who led the Tigers with 580 assists and 51 serving aces. Making the second team were junior Caroline Chesnic (MH/RS) and sophomore Charley Levengood (OH/S), who garnered 246 digs. Honorable mention recognition was also awarded to sophomore Savannah Brown (OH).