There will be a conference realignment that will change the landscape for some local teams and the high-profile transfers of three all-conference players could shift the balance of power, but one thing seems apparent: Hagerstown and Northeastern will be the two best volleyball teams in Wayne County.
The two programs that battled for the 2A sectional championship a year ago are no longer in the same conference, but remain in the same sectional. Both will likely contend for conference titles in their respective leagues and are capable of achieving postseason success.
Two Wayne County programs, Centerville and Seton Catholic, will enter the season with new head coaches and both will have several new faces on their rosters.
It will not take long to measure the strength of the four rural Wayne County programs. The season opener for all four will be the Wayne County Tournament hosted by Hagerstown on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Centerville
2025 record: 7-18
Head coach: Ally Staton (First year)
Conference: Eastern Crossroads Conference
Staton, a member of the Centerville coaching staff last season, has been elevated to head coach of the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs graduated seven seniors last season, including first team All-TEC selection Abi Sangster and second team all-conference selection Ava Spears. The Bulldogs expect senior Nellee Holmquist, a 6-foot net protector entering her third year of varsity play, to lead the young players with limited varsity experience.
The Bulldogs can also expect contributions for two junior transfer students, Peyton Anderson and Jolie Scherschel. Both played at Seton Catholic for the last two seasons where Scherschel, who has 421 career kills entering the season, was named first-team All-PAAC Conference in 2025.
The Bulldogs, members of the Eastern Crossroads Conference, will likely face the biggest challenges in their new conference from Eastern Hancock, New Castle, Northeastern and Lapel. They will continue to be in the Hagerstown sectional. The Bulldogs will travel to Brookville for a scrimmage with Franklin County on Thursday, Aug. 13, before opening regular-season play Aug. 15 at the Wayne County Tournament at Hagerstown.
Hagerstown
2025 record: 21-10
Head coach: Brian Dale (14th year)
Conference: Tri-Eastern Conference
Brian Dale, the dean of area coaches, has consistently put strong teams on the floor, winning more than 300 matches at Hagerstown. The 2026 Tigers have the potential to be among Dale’s best. The Tigers return three-time TEC All-Conference performer Raleigh Doerstler, who will enter the season with 931 kills to anchor the team.
Lilah Doerstler and Avery Slaven were also named first team all-conference last season, and the trio of 6-footers are a force. Raleigh led the team in kills and service aces, Lilah was second in digs and kills and led in assists, and Slaven led the team and the conference in blocks.
The Tigers also return all but two members of their sectional roster from a year ago including Harper Fisher, Millie Glover, Nora King, Briley Peckinpaugh, Kennedy Romack, and Bella Tinkle, all of whom saw substantial playing time last season. Players from a 19-1 junior varsity last year are also pushing for playing time.
Winchester and Union County will be the biggest obstacles in the Tri-Eastern Conference race. Northeastern, Union County and Winchester will be in the same sectional with Hagerstown.
The Tigers will open play by hosting North Decatur on Thursday, Aug. 13, for a scrimmage before hosting Centerville, Lincoln and Northeastern on Saturday, Aug. 15, for the Wayne County Tournament in the annual battle for the wooden bucket.
Lincoln
2025 record: 4-23
Head coach: Don Crum (second year)
Conference: Tri-Eastern Conference
Expect Lincoln to improve this season. It can be difficult for a 1A school to compete in a conference primarily composed of 2A schools, but the returning players have put in the work in the off-season to compete. The Eagles only won four games last year, but two of the four wins came in sectional play as the Eagles closed strong. The Eagles graduated four rotation players last year, but All-TEC first team performer Paige Pitcock returns to lead the way for the young team. Reilynn Ferguson will also be an impact player.
Sophomores Taylor Bell, Leah McDivitt and Anna Webb are also expected to be key contributors.
The Eagles will open regular-season play by participating in the Wayne County Tournament at Hagerstown on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Northeastern
2025 record: 23-10
Head coach: Anne Wissel (second year)
Conference: Eastern Crossroads Conference
The Lady Knights avenged regular-season losses to Winchester and Hagerstown in the sectional last year to hoist the championship trophy before losing to Triton Central in the regional round. The Knights are in a new conference, but they remain in the same sectional with Hagerstown, Union County and Winchester.
Wissel is entering her second season at Northeastern, but she is a proven veteran who has had success at both the college and high school level including stints as the head coach at Richmond and at Seton Catholic.
The Knights graduated all-conference performer Ady Kircher, and Emma Bledsoe-Ryan, arguably their best overall player, transferred to Winchester, but they still return substantial talent including Alyia Diamond, Kelsie Culbertson, Sammi Kircher, Isabella Markward, Ava Spradling, Kamdyn Sum and Bela Vanlandingham.
Eastern Hancock and Lapel, both 25-game winners last year, plus perennial power New Castle will likely challenge the Knights for league supremacy in the Eastern Crossroads Conference.
The Knights will open their season by hosting Seton Catholic on Wednesday, Aug. 12, for a scrimmage. They open regular-season play when they take part in the Wayne County Tournament on Saturday, Aug, 15.
Richmond
2025 record: 10-19
Head coach: Kevin Ross (second year)
Conference: North Central Conference
Richmond coach Kevin Ross, in his second year at the helm, will rely heavily on young talent in 2026. The Red Devils graduated eight players last season, most notable among them team leaders Jazell James, Jenna Johnston, Nia Jones and Aubrey Scalf. Sophomore Addison Belanga, senior Nytasia Russell and junior Shanel Sexton top the returnees.
The Red Devils will host Pendleton Heights on Monday, Aug. 17, before traveling to Winchester on Wednesday, Aug. 19, for a match with the highly ranked Falcons.
Seton Catholic
2025 record: 10-20
Head coach: Yet to be named
Conference: Pioneer Academic and Athletic Conference
Seton Catholic, a program that won 26 matches and advanced to the 1A semi-state just two seasons ago, will undergo major changes entering the 2026 season.
Emily Tremain, who coached the Cardinals for the last two seasons, has joined the coaching staff at Connersville as an assistant and a search for a new head coach is underway. Taryn Tremain, the Pioneer Conference Player of the Year in 2025 and a first team all-conference selection after leading the Cardinals in assists (312), digs (232) and aces (80), while adding 215 kills has transferred to Connersville. Jolie Scherschel, also a PAAC first team all-conference selection last season, after leading the Cardinals in kills (232) and adding 176 digs, has transferred to Centerville. Peyton Anderson, who saw considerable action last season for the Cardinals, has also transferred to Centerville.
Kayleigh Dudley, Violet Falcone, Lily Feist, Maddie Patmore and Brylee Roosa are the most experienced players expected to return. The search for a new head coach is underway, but roster numbers are an obvious concern.
The Cardinals are scheduled to play a scrimmage match on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Northeastern before opening their regular-season schedule with a match at Cambridge City Lincoln on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
A version of this article appeared in the August 5 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
