The high school volleyball season begins Aug. 15. Here are season previews for area schools.
Smithville
Smithville is heading into the 2025 season with a bit of unfinished business to take care of, both in and out of the Wayne County Athletic League.
The Smithies are coming off a 20-7 season overall, 10-4 in the WCAL, which was good for sole possession of second place in the conference, before winning a Division VI district title and ultimately losing in a regional semifinal to eventual Final 4 participant Independence.
Four letter-winners are gone from that team, but plenty return. Eleven players with varsity letters are back, including a solid senior class. The latter group includes right-side Kendra Hanna, setter Leah Keib, middle hitter Kiersten Ross and libero Morgan Shutt. Another senior libero, Molly Torrence, is injured.
The junior class this year returns outside hitters Faith Lengacher and Hayden Steiner. That class also has an injured libero in Grace Frank. Sophomores Rebekah Keib (outside/middle) and Mary Feil (setter) round out the returners.
Newbies looking to crack the lineup include junior defensive specialist Ali Horst, sophomore DS Khloe Knight, and freshmen outside hitters Cayle Zimmerly, Olivia Shelley, Hannah Lightfoot, and Addy Maxymiv.
“Our team will be different from last year in that we are going to be more versatile,” said Smithies coach Jo Keib, now in her second season at the helm. “Some of the players only played JV and so we are transitioning into the speed of the varsity game. We have a lot of players who can play many different positions and so our offense can be flexible.”
Smithville likely will battle Dalton near the top of the WCAL standings. The Bulldogs ran the table a year ago en route to an Elite 8 appearance.
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.”
Central Christian
The Comets are coming off an outstanding season in 2024, one that saw them finish 17-7 overall and win the Mid-Buckeye Conference with a flawless 7-0 record. Central then advanced to the Division VII Northeast District 3 championship match, falling to Middlefield Cardinal.
“Last season was a big turnaround for our program,” Comets coach Karmen Miller said. “A huge group effort allowed us to flip our record from the previous year. We had an underdog mentality entering the season and often surprised ourselves when successful. This year there is a different type of energy and anticipation.”
Miller saw just two players – Katelyn Miller and Sophia Rohher – move on. So expect more of the same from a squad that still has just three experienced seniors on the roster.
Those three are setter Maclaren Fry, defensive specialist Sarah Miller and libero Saralyn Stjernholm (libero). Juniors back include middle hitters Brinna Miller and Sommer Shue, and outside hitters/defensive specialists Elliannah Rohr and Chloe Rohrer.
New to the lineup this year are senior defensive specialists Kate Holton and Lily Morber; junior right side hitter/setter Mary Miller and her classmate Hannah Himes (OH/DS), along with sophomore hitter Bella Fortner, who will play junior varsity but dress for the senior squad.
