With the 2025 girls’ volleyball season nearly here, local coaches gave a quick look at what to expect from their teams this year.
Apollo: Despite losing their top two leaders in kills to graduation, the E-Gals return a young and hungry roster led by Avery Gray, Jessie Pate, Jessica Lee, Savannah Denson, and Maddi Roberts and are joined by up-and-comers Keelan Wettstain, Lyla Fortener, and Ali Lawson.
We have a young core this season and are still developing our team chemistry as the preseason progresses,” Apollo head coach MaryAnne Howard said. “We want to be a district and regional contender. A focus for us is to improve every day. This team has a lot of potential and a high ceiling that we want to expand as the season goes.”
Daviess County: Amidst a youth movement, the Lady Panthers enter the season led by senior Jazlynn Howard and juniors Maya Pollard and Lexi Jones. All three were voted team captains, and according to head coach Tyla Bailey, are excellent at representing the team on and off the court.
They are joined by juniors Haylee Clark and Maddie Chinn and sophomore Reese Whiteside. Bailey also anticipates sophomores Stella Roberts and Kyndal Murphy to have increased roles this year and lauded their abilities to understand their assignment and execute the game plan.
“We value energy, respect, and communication with a team-first mentality,” Bailey said. “These are non-negotiable, and we expect to be top contenders for district and regional titles. Our goal is to play exciting volleyball and get DCVB back on track and where it needs to be. We are young, yet ready to play.”
Hancock County: The Lady Hornets return the majority of last year’s roster, including seniors Klaire Swihart and Caroline Connor. Freshman setters Ensley Staples and Keelie Burk are expected to start this year, while Addy Harrison will be the new starting libero.
Hancock County head coach Janna Burton expects her team to be aggressive offensively and be more resilient.
McLean County: The Lady Cougars’ youth movement continues, with only five upperclassmen on this year’s roster, including seniors Hadley Young and Rachel Ring and juniors Abbigail Shivers, Lily Burrough, and Haylie Billerbeck.
Shivers, who finished second on the team a year ago in assists, and sophomore Amelia Aull will be leaned on for their experience and are joined by up-and-coming freshman Annie Shelton and Savannah Blades.
“With the loss of several upperclassmen, we have an outstanding younger group that has stepped up to fill the roles,” head coach Traci Capps said. “As a young team, we want to learn and grow and become competitive.”
Owensboro: The Lady Devils enter the season as the reigning 3rd Region champs and with a new head coach in Mitchell Johnson. Despite losing six seniors to graduation, sophomore Ayrish Barksdale and juniors Anna Travis, Carsyn Cecil, and Macey Kahn all return. Joining them is sophomore backrow specialist June Larsen, whom Johnson acknowledged that she gives all of her heart to each play.
“I want the team to continue playing at the high level of volleyball that we know,” Johnson said. “I also want them to be present in each moment of the game and try to learn to keep our emotions in check.”
Owensboro Catholic: A year ago, the Lady Aces finished just short in the 3rd Region Finals and are determined to get over the hump. Despite losing seven seniors to graduation, Owensboro Catholic returns an exciting core led by Mayme Powell, Addie Oller, Ava Martin, Molly Arnold, Emma Castlen, Payton Arnold, Taylor Clark, and Addie Millay.
While there are seven seniors on this year’s roster, they have plenty of young talent in junior Aleah McCarty, sophomores Emmy Roberts, Bella Brey, Ryleigh Owen, Marilla Kanipe, Klaudia Hayden, freshman Quinn Best, and newcomer Susie Maglinger.
Competing in the Bluegrass games in late July, the Lady Aces started 2-0 before finishing 4-2.
Head coach Brian Hardison and the Lady Aces are striving for the top seed in the district and to win a highly competitive 3rd region and reach the state tournament.
Hardison believes in his team’s chances, stating, “If we play together and work hard, this is definitely a possibility.”
Trinity (Whitesville): The Lady Raiders enter the season with a new head coach in Adam Huff, who previously coached at Trinity for 19 seasons before stepping away in 2019.
“It feels crazy to return. I quit coaching originally because I had kids who were in athletics, and that was keeping us busy,” Huff said. “Now that that is over with, we have a little bit more free time between my wife and me. It has been refreshing getting back into the gym, to be honest. We have a good and eager group that wants to learn.”
Having graduated six seniors from last year’s roster, the Lady Raiders are looking to replace the majority of their offensive production, but they return Ava Coomes and Gracie Mills. Joining them are young talents in Ella Morris, Emmy Edge, Kirsten Mills, Lilly Goetz, Laney Mills, Ella McManaway, and Annie Coomes.
“Our end goal is to always be a frontrunner in the 12th District,” Huff said. “We want to compete for that district title every year, and it’s the same thing with the All-A Region. We want to battle for those two things. Being a small school, those are our immediate goals, but we also want to be right there with the best of them in the region.”
