Scioto Valley Conference volleyball continues to set the standard
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — It is pretty well known in the world of high school volleyball, the Scioto Valley Conference has set a pretty high standard of play throughout this part of the state for quite some time. The sport has taken on some major changes in the past few decades, such as rally scoring and other various rule changes, which have allowed the game to get faster, more athletic, and more enjoyable to play and watch. This has led to more kids wanting to play the sport, and clubs and other organizations outside of the normal high school setting have grown exponentially. This has allowed very few programs to be forced to go through rebuilding stages. Instead, they simply reload with one group after another, which constantly leads to a heavy flavor of SVC volleyball teams capturing Sectional and District championships each year.
Last year, the league said goodbye to a senior class which had some great depth and incredible female athletes. With names like Makaela and Makenna Lovely, Ellie Harper, Jenna Martin, Camryn Carroll, Allison Basye, Megan Steele, Olivia Smith, Hannah Lougheed, Lexie Lockwood, Ava Eldridge, Marissa Mullins, and Claire Latham all making All-League last year and all lost to graduation, you would think this would be a year that would test the strength of this conference.
As things get started in the first half of the fall season, it appears the transition of one group to the next is going to be seamless. Perhaps it was the depth of last year’s seniors that made it tough for some to shine, but this year’s senior class is immediately making its own case as one of the more underappreciated groups in recent history. Players such as Lexi Scott of Zane Trace, Adena’s Hannah Burns, Paint Valley’s Averi McFadden, and Unioto’s Sophie Coleman are leading a charge that could very well once again lead to over half the league playing for a District title.
For Scott, she leads a Zane Trace team entering her senior season with expectations that are through the ceiling. Scott is an incredible athlete who can impact the match in so many ways. Her ability to get off the floor on the attack makes her one of the few area players who can simply take over an entire match.
“Probably her self-confidence and her drive to succeed,” said Zane Trace head coach Cyndi Davis, when asked about what makes her senior leader so good. “She always strives to be the very best player, teammate, and person. She is always pushing herself and encouraging her teammates to do the same.”
Beyond the outstanding talent of Scott, Zane Trace returns several other key seniors. Gracey McCullough joins her teammate, Scott, (and Unioto’s Coleman) as the only All-League volleyball returners from last year. Seniors Kinley May and Alexis Farley both earned Honorable Mention All-SVC last year, and the senior class includes the talents of Delaney Berry, Alexa Braden, Reagan Hill, and Neveah Woodward.
“This group is a very supportive group,” said Davis. “They honestly want each other to succeed and the team to be successful. They are a very dedicated group of young ladies, to their teammates and to the team. They are great friends on and off the court, and I think that puts them a step above other teams. Players can tell you that they are friends on and off the court, but these ladies don’t have to tell you – you see it.”
I know this will completely shock our area volleyball readers, but Adena is really good at volleyball again this year. After losing a great group of players to graduation, the rumblings started through the summer that it could be a transition year for Adena, but that is not even close to reality. Burns leads a group which is sure to have Adena in the league race and another chance to return to the Regional tournament later this season. In talking to the senior, it is easy to hear how special it is to wear the two-shade blue.
“Volleyball has been my passion since I was young, and Coach Smith has built a program that starts encouraging young girls to pursue volleyball at Adena and take pride in being part of that program,” said Burns. “Being a part of the Adena volleyball program takes hard work, teamwork, earning your position, and a love of the game. Adena volleyball has built the person I am and has taught me lessons that I’ll use for the rest of my life. That is what makes the Adena volleyball program so special.”
For Paint Valley, the Bearcats have enjoyed some recent success in the Division IV tournament. This year should give them an opportunity to continue this trend as McFadden leads a senior group including Kendall Dye, Kaitlin Potts, Kara Free, Mackenna Heath, and Savannah Givan. This experience should provide a lot of leaders for head coach Kristin Posey. As for McFadden, she is extremely talented in her all-around game, and she can really impact the match from all six spots in the rotation.
“The SVC is full of great athletes,” said McFadden who is also an All-League basketball player, an All-League softball player, a PV cheerleader, and a member of the track program. “I am friends with a lot of my competitors, so it makes it a cool atmosphere to see how we have grown in our athletic abilities over the years.”
Coleman started her final season recording career-dig #1,000. The Unioto libero is the only senior for a Unioto team that should be one of the more improved teams in the league. The past two years had a lot of youth fighting through the growing pains, and now the Unioto rotation has some experience that should return them to the top half of the standings and a better chance to compete in the Division II tournament.
“Well, first of all she is our only senior,” said Unioto head coach when asked about Coleman’s overall impact on the team as a player and a leader. “She has spent most of her career on the varsity floor, so she has a lot of court time. She is a quiet kid, but she plays loud on the court. She is very coachable and understands the game very well. She is just an all-around great athlete.”
Even though area rotations will have many new faces and names, the one thing you can count on for sure is SVC volleyball will continue to set a standard the entire area is chasing.
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