The high school volleyball season is well under way and, as most area teams are beginning league play this week, it's time to take a look ahead to see which squads are expected to have the best chance at contending for titles.
Last season, longtime area big-school power St. Ursula reached the Division I state final four for the 13th time and for the first time in eight seasons under coach Jason Reilly.
The Arrows, competing for the first time in the Michigan-based Catholic High School League's Central Division, parlayed a challenging schedule into a strong Ohio tournament run.
St. Ursula, 19-9 overall and 4-2 in the CHSL Central, lost twice to Bloomfield Hills Marian, once in league play (3-2) and later in the Bishop Cup playoffs (3-1).
Marian had won Michigan Division 1 state titles the previous three years, but it was CHSL Central rival Farmington Hills Mercy that captured Michigan's D-1 crown last year. The Arrows had beaten Mercy 3-0 in early season league play.
The Arrows later beat Lima Senior in an Ohio Division I sectional final, topped Findlay and Springfield from the Northern Lakes League in district competition, then defeated Perrysburg (3-0) and Avon (3-1) to win their first regional title since 2015 before falling to Olentangy Orange (3-0) in the D-I state semis.
Back from that team to lead the Arrows this year are senior defensive specialist Devin Dzienny, junior middle hitter/outside hitter Molly Malone, and junior OH-DS Mia Hasty. Emerging on the attack early this season for the Arrows (3-2, 0-0) has been junior OH Kayden Campbell.
“We have three seniors on the team, therefore we are naturally younger than most, and we will go through the ups and downs early,” said Reilly, who sees Mercy and Marian as the top CHSL teams this season. “We have to learn from each match and, if we do that, then when we get to the state tournament we will have a chance to make a run to the final four.
“I am excited for this team. They had a great offseason, and came in incredibly fit and ready to work on the courts.”
Reilly acknowledged that the 2023 state run created momentum for this season.
“Making the run last year has given the program a bit more energy to start the season,” he said. “We talked about it twice the first week of practice, but since then it has been all about the 2024 season, and making sure this group grows so they can make the final-four run this year.”
TOLEDO AREA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Ottawa Hills (15-6, 8-0) won the Toledo Area Athletic Conference championship last year under coach Heather Holly, who expects the Green Bears to make a run at a repeat this season.
Leadings the Bears on the court will be seniors Lily Berenzweig (OH) and Peyton Lorenzen (DS), junior Sydney Snyder (MH), and sophomore Rose Kowalczyk (S).
Berenzweig, Kowalczyk, and Snyder were each named first team All-TAAC in 2023.
Ottawa Hills is off to a 2-0 start, including a TAAC win over Cardinal Stritch.
“We have a very strong team with all returning starters,” Holly said.
Last year, Toledo Christian (6-18, 4-4) and Emmanuel Christian (12-6, 4-4) tied for second place in the TAAC.
NORTHWEST OHIO ATHLETIC LEAGUE
In the Northwest Ohio Athletic League, 2023 champion Liberty Center (19-4, 7-0) was crushed by graduation losses, including three first team all-league players and a fourth who made the second team.
Thus, with the Tigers expected to undergo a rebuild, Archbold, Patrick Henry, and Swanton might all be in the hunt for a crown this year.
Archbold (10-13, 4-3) returns much of its rotation for coach Debbie Culler, who will be counting on seniors Jazla Torres (S), Keely Culler (OH), and Grace Meyer (L), along with junior Miley Gericke (OH) for leadership.
“Our team has really been working on terminating the ball on offense and a defensive mindset to take our play to the next level,” coach Culler said. “The team has more depth this year with our middle attackers and right sides playing an integral part with our hitting scheme.”
Swanton (18-7, 4-3) looks to challenge under 12th-year coach Kyle Borer, who will rely heavily on seniors Lillyanna Valderas (DS), Hannah Crouse (MH), and Jordyn Ramirez (DS), as well as junior Alexa Saber (OH).
“The league is deep and balanced from top to bottom,” said Borer, whose 2017 and 2020 Bulldogs won league titles. “Every year, two, three, or four teams are battling for the title. We have a mixture of young players, with three freshmen already contributing in the starting lineup with a mix of four returning letter winners. And we have a couple other seniors.
“We are a very deep team. We've played 12 girls our first three matches, we started out 3-0, and they're getting more comfortable playing with each other. The cohesion on the court is getting there. I feel like we're going to have another strong season.”
Patrick Henry (11-13, 2-5) will look to compete for its first NWOAL title since 2016 led by returning first team all-league player Ada Christman.
Patriots coach Hailey Nusbaum also will get strong contributions from senior Mariah Boyer (OH-DS) and juniors Riley Brent (OH) and Carys Crossland (OH-S).
Delta (12-10, 6-1) was the NWOAL runner-up last year, but the Panthers were hit hard by graduation and will be playing under a new head coach in Heather Williams-Jutte.
Expected to ease this transition will be senior Mariah McGarry (OH) and juniors Claire Bates (OH), Keagyn Gillen (MH), and Serenity Tedrick (L).
“This is my first year as the varsity coach and, only having two returning varsity players, we are learning the faster-paced games,” Williams-Jutte said. “Our front row is big, and can battle with blocking and hitting. Our defense is building.”
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