People often say that they wished they knew when they were in the good times. Often, you don’t necessarily realize how special the moment is until it’s long in the past.
Despite coming off the greatest single season in school history and needing to replace a few major components to the squad, Nelsonville-York volleyball may still be in the golden years heading into the 2024 season.
The Buckeyes capped off the miraculous season with a District 13 Division III title after a comeback victory over Southeastern before falling to Meadowbrook in four sets at the first stage of the Regional bracket. It was the first time in school history that the volleyball program had won a set at the regional stage.
Overall, Nelsonville-York went 23-3 with a perfect 12-0 record in Tri-Valley Conference-Ohio play to pick up another divisional title. The team dropped just 14 sets in 25 games.
While it’s admittedly going to be incredibly difficult to repeat the long list of accolades the program picked up in its’ best season ever, head coach Wayne Dicken believes that this year’s squad has the talent and experience to step up and make it another magical run in Ben Wagner Gymnasium this Fall.
“I think it drives these girls even harder,” Dicken immediately quipped when asked about coming to the realization that what was accomplished might not be repeatable. “With nine seniors, they’ve been waiting for the chance to be leaders on this team. They understand that what we accomplished last year was possible a once-in-a-lifetime experience… we feel like we are fully capable in Division VI to win another district championship.”
Oh yeah, that could be important to mention. With the change in divisional structure to volleyball in Ohio this year, the Buckeyes dropped from Division III all the way down to VI. With the change in opponents and there being just over a dozen teams now in Division VI in the district, the experienced coach is not lowering expectations in any sense this season.
It’s not necessarily the change in divisions and opponents that inspires confidence in Dicken, it’s the girls on the floor. As mentioned, Nelsonville-York is running a team with nine seniors this season, a majority with significant varsity experience on a championship team.
It’s their time to step up and continue the legacy that Nelsonville-York volleyball has garnered over the past half-decade or so, Dicken believes it’s possible.
“We have really great leaders with these nine girls that are stepping up. There’s not really one girl who takes the reins, each night and each day in practice it’s somebody different,” Dicken noted. “Last season was unbelievable but I think it drives these seniors, now that the pressure is on them, that they want to go out each night with the understanding that the target is on our backs still.”
Not only belief, the group of experienced, talented veterans coming back for one final ride gives Dicken a sense of security and safety. Despite it being a new season, he has little worry about what’s going to happen out on the court.
“We have a lot of girls that are returning and have played varsity for three years… those girls that are returning want that pressure. They sort of thrive on that pressure.”
Names like Megan Booth, Kyleigh Warren, Gianna Dixon return for their senior seasons as already multi-year contributors while athletes like Kenzie VanBibber, Delaney Dean and Emmie Fowler should be expected to step up even further after impressive junior campaigns. It’s this core group of players mixed in with a few other expected rising upperclassmen that should be able to continue the legacy of Buckeye volleyball with little hindrance to the success of the program.
“Megan Booth is a coach’s dream,” Dicken immediately responded when asked about the importance of her return specifically. “Her position is a little overlooked sometimes but she is the general. I tell everyone that I talk to that she’s another coach on the floor for me, she sees things that I don’t even see sometimes…. I’d put her against anyone in Southeast Ohio as far as her hands go.”
Aside from the long list of experienced returners, Dicken mentioned names like Chloee Vohlken, Charlie Fisk, Cat Dixon and Paisley Stalder as some of the more unknown names that could make an impact to the squad this season.
Admittedly, it’ll be a tough task for Dicken and his staff to make up for what the team is losing in the back-end. No longer with the program is Lyndsey Spencer, a four-year starter and District Defensive Player of the Year for the Buckeyes.
The head coach mentioned Dean as a probable replacement for the libero jersey but he made sure to commit the idea that the back row is going to be a defensive committee. At the front of the net, there’s not all that much change going on.
Stalwarts at the net as two of the taller players in the area, Gianna Dixon and Fowler will surely be set to dominate the net once again and provide some security for the Buckeyes. Warren and Vohlken will both be key pieces on the outside after the loss of Chloe Lehman, another four-year starter for Nelsonville-York.
Dicken and the rest of the Nelsonville-York program still have incredibly high expectations for themselves, looking to live up to the magical ride they went on the year prior and keep the good times going.
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