Wayne County volleyball teams began practice this week for the 2024 season that will open with regular season matches beginning on Saturday, Aug. 17. Wayne County has had a long history of quality play, and that tradition will continue this season.
In the 1A enrollment classification, Seton Catholic will likely be the team to beat when the sectional rolls around. In the 2A classification it will likely be a two-team race between Centerville and Hagerstown for the Wayne County tournament title. Northeastern will rebuild and hope that their success during the last two seasons carries over. All three will have to bring their best effort to compete with Union County in sectional play. In 4A, Richmond will be challenged by a loaded sectional field.
1A Cambridge City Lincoln — Head coach Don Crum, 2023 record 10-19
Veteran head coach Greg Seidner retired from coaching at the end of last season after 33 years and 566 wins with the Lincoln program. His assistant, Don Crum, has been elevated to the position of head coach and it will likely be a rebuilding year for the Eagles. Key players Alivia Anderson, Mia Cupp, Samantha Lilley, Paige Lunsford and Reagan Sturgis picked up their diplomas last spring. Crum will rebuild around Samantha Bell and Tahlia Rastbichler. Bell led the Eagles in digs and receptions last season. Rastbichler led the team in blocks and was third in kills and service aces. Brea Ferdon, Reilyn Ferguson, Luna Garcia, Paige Pitcock, Grace Smith and Aubrey Trent are also expected to contribute for the Eagles after gaining varsity experience last season. The Eagles will travel to Connersville on Wednesday, Aug. 14, for a scrimmage match before hosting Seton Catholic on Wednesday, Aug. 21, to open their regular season. The Eagles are assigned to a seven-team sectional that also includes Blue River, Monroe Central, Seton Catholic, Tri High, Union City and Union (Modoc).
1A Seton Catholic — Head coach Emily Tremain, 2023 record 16-14
Few teams have an all-state caliber player on their roster. Seton Catholic will return two players, Bella Cornell and Bryn VanVleet, who were named Indiana Junior All-Stars by the Indiana Volleyball Coaches Association at the end of last season. VanVleet, a first team all-Pioneer Academic and Athletic Conference performer last season, led the state across all enrollment classes in average kills per set. VanVleet holds Cardinal school records for kills in a single match with 39 and kills for a season with 659. VanVleet also led the Cardinals in blocks, digs and service aces last season. Cornell, who was named second team all-PAAC, was one of the area’s leading setters last season and was second for the Cardinals in blocks and third in kills and digs.
The Cardinals graduated Bella Diehl, Logen Griffin and Mekenna McDonald, but will return Kaydence Burkhardt, Allison Hamilton, Maya Hamilton, Mckenzie McDonald, Johnie Ann McDonnel and Brylee Roosa to join forces with Cornell and VanVleet. The Cardinals have a scrimmage match scheduled at Northeastern on Wednesday, Aug. 14, before opening regular-season play in Indianapolis on Saturday, Aug. 17, in a round robin three-team tournament with Indianapolis International and Union (Modoc). The Cardinals are assigned to a seven-team sectional that also includes Blue River, Lincoln, Monroe Central, Tri High, Union City and Union (Modoc).
2A Centerville — Head coach Jim Basler, 2023 record 12-16
Head coach Jim Basler, in his second year at the helm, took over a team that compiled a record of 6-21 the year before. Last year, the Lady Bulldogs improved to 12-16, won the Wayne County tournament, finished third in the Tri-Eastern Conference and will return nearly every key player from last year’s team.
Chloe Goodman and Brooklyn O’Neil were both named to the all-TEC first team last year and both return. Assist leader Camilla Waters also returns, along with Maddy Kean and McKenna Hartman. Goodman, Hartman, Kean, O’Neil and Waters were in the Top 3 in nearly every statistical category for the Bulldogs last year.
There is more good news for Centerville: the Bulldogs have been reassigned to the 2A enrollment class after playing in 3A the last two seasons. The reassignment can potentially improve their postseason chances for success. The Bulldogs will travel to Franklin County on Wednesday, Aug. 14 for scrimmage with the Wildcats before hosting the Centerville Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 17. The Bulldogs are assigned to a six-team sectional that will also include Hagerstown, Northeastern, Shenandoah, Union County and Winchester Community.
2A Hagerstown — Head coach Brian Dale, 2023 record 14-14
The Lady Tigers have compiled a record of 29-30 over the last two seasons. This might be the year head coach Brian Dale’s Tigers return to prominence. In the nine-year period prior to the last two seasons, the Tigers won five conference titles, eight Wayne County championships, four sectionals, a regional and 231 matches, and were routinely ranked in the Top 10 in the state 2A poll. The Tigers graduated first team all-Tri-Eastern Conference selection Hattie Hobbs, along with key players Kasiti Ferriell, Lindsey Golliher and Hannah Pyle, but there is no reason for concern given 11 roster players return from last season.
Raleigh Doerstler was first team all-conference, leading the Tigers in kills and hitting percentage while finishing second in aces and third in blocks. Emma Snodgrass was honorable mention all-conference and passed out 361 assists and led the team in service aces. Ella Logston led the team with 400 assists and was third in aces. Rylan Young was a strong back-row player, finishing second in digs. Olivia Klein was one of the area’s premier net defenders. Klein recorded a team and TEC high of 123 blocks.
The Tigers will add players from last year’s 17-0 junior varsity, the first undefeated JV volleyball team in Hagerstown school history. Competition for playing time in practice will be intense. The Tigers will host North Decatur on Thursday, Aug. 15, for a scrimmage before hosting Franklin County on Tuesday, Aug. 20, in their regular-season opener. The Tigers are assigned to a six-team sectional that includes Centerville, Northeastern, Shenandoah, Union County and Winchester Community.
2A Northeastern — Head coach Matt Fisher, 2023 record 23-8, Sectional Champions
The Lady Knights, the defending Tri-Eastern Conference champion and two-time defending sectional champion, will need contributions from new faces to continue their recent success.
Tri-Eastern Conference Co-Players of the Year Emma Neeley and Lillian Null both graduated, along with key contributors Kate Benjamin, Addisen Mastriano, Grace Stockton and Grace Summers.
The Knights will rebuild around leading returnee Olivia Null. Null led the Knights with an area best 743 assists last season and was third on the team in digs. Adi Bry and Addyson Kircher also saw significant playing time last year.
The Knights will be looking for contributions from Reese Dumford, Adylan Capps, Izzy Markward and Emma Bledsoe-Ryan, who saw limited varsity minutes last season.
The Knights will host Seton Catholic in a scrimmage on Wednesday, Aug. 14, before opening their regular season on Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Morristown Classic, where they are the defending tournament champions. The Knights are assigned to a six-team sectional that will also include Centerville, Hagerstown, Shenandoah, Union County and Winchester Community.
4A Richmond — Head coach Darrell Morken, 2023 record 14-12
Veteran head coach Darrell Morken will continue his rebuilding process at Richmond and for the most part he will do it with several new faces. After having a winning season a year ago, the roster was depleted by the graduation of several key players.
Hannah Johnston, first team All-NCC, who led the team in kills, digs and aces, and was second in assists and third in blocks, graduated. Abby Necessary, second team All-NCC who was second in kills, second in aces and third in assists, graduated. R’Javia Segrest, who was first in blocks and third in kills, graduated. Alyssa Amyx, who was first in receptions and second in digs, also graduated.
First-team All-NCC selection Madi Spradling, who led the Red Devils in assists last season and Holly Trotter, who was second in digs and receptions and third in assists, are expected to provide leadership to the team. Jazell James, who was third in kills, is expected to help with the power game.
The Red Devils will open regular-season play on Saturday, Aug. 17, when they join the field in the Centerville Invitational. Richmond is assigned to a seven-team sectional that also includes Anderson, Greenfield-Central, Mount Vernon (Fortville), Muncie Central, Pendleton Heights and Yorktown.
A version of this article appeared in the August 7 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.