Merrimack Valley High School’s varsity volleyball program will begin it’s inaugural season at John Stark Regional High School on Wednesday. This project is many years in the making and the time has finally come for the team to compete.

In the fall of 2021, Macy Gordon, who now plays basketball at New England College, started a volleyball club as her senior project at Merrimack Valley. The sport had always been popular in physical education class and when Gordon’s project culminated in a student vs. staff game it drew a crowd that packed the gym.

“The energy was electrifying,” said head coach Tom Clark.

Throughout the spring and summer, students continued to pursue converting the club into a full-fledged sport at the school after that. Coaches Clark and Rich Rathbone along with then new athletic director, Kenny Edwards, agreed to trial the sport as a club for a year. After the girls gained experience that year, they decided to expand the program starting at junior varsity within an NHIAA modified schedule.

The 2024-25 is year three of the campaign, and the school now enters their first varsity season in Division II. 

“We have an amazing group of young women who are committed to making this program better every day. We may be young and new, but we have grit,” said Clark.

The initiative created buzz and excitement within the school district and they had around 30 girls try out. So much so that Merrimack Valley Middle School will joined and kicked off it’s inaugural season this year as well.

Senior Caydence Allberg, junior Mackenzie Shelby and sophomore TaliyahChudoba are among MV’s key starters, although the entire team, regardless of experience, will be newcomers to varsity volleyball when they take the floor on Wednesday night at John Stark. It’s a nearly exclusively homegrown program. Only one player on the Pride varsity roster played volleyball prior to joining the MV program, although a handful played in a Concord-based club house league this past winter.

Clark said, “I’m extremely proud of what we're accomplishing right now. Our program's motto is ‘Set For Success’, and we're doing just that.”

The Pride plays its first home match in program history on Friday when MV hosts Kingswood.

CONCORD

Division: I

Coach: Maria Wimpey (second year).

Last year: 11-8, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Brooke Wyatt, sr., OH; Avery MacDonald, sr., M; Sydney Fye, sr., S; Megan Wimpey, so., S. 

Top newcomers: Olive Kelly, so., M; Ava Todd, jr., RS/M.

Outlook: The Crimson Tide graduated four key players, but “the girls are looking good this year,” according to coach Wimpey.

“We practice serve receive every day and I like to say that is one of our strengths, making sure our setters don’t have to run too much so we can run the offense,” Wimpey added. “Running plays is something that we are working on, talking about how to trick the blockers and really get in a rhythm with our setters.”

COE-BROWN

Division: II

Coach: Renee Zobel (seventh year)

Last year: 15-4, D-II runner-up

Returning starters: Haile Comeau, sr., L; Stella Vachon, sr., MB; Emma Zeblisky, sr., OH; Sofya Gunderson, jr., DS.

Top newcomers: Kelli Daniel, jr., OH; Izzy Grenier, jr., MB/O; Sam Arnesen, so., PH/S.

Outlook: The Bears graduated eight players from last year’s team that made it’s third straight championship appearance, falling to rival Oyster River, 3-2, in the title game for the second year in a row. Four players with significant varsity experience return.

“We have players with a lot of skill and maturity coming right in to make an impact from last year’s JV team,” Zobel said. “Almost every player on this team can play multiple positions, giving us the versatility and flexibility we love in our program. This team has a passion for volleyball and loves to compete. I’ve already seen incredible growth in this team in this year’s abbreviated preseason and I can’t wait to see where that love and daily hard work takes them.”

Teams to beat: Oyster River, Souhegan, Campbell

JOHN STARK

Division: II

Coach: Alisha Flanagan (third year).

Last year: 7-11, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Jenna Sinclair, jr., OH; Mikayla Rogers, sr., RS; Reese Pike, jr., S.

Top newcomers: Olivia Courser, sr., L; Peyton Sterling, sr., OH.

Outlook: “We have a pretty young team here this year but with lots of raw talent,” Flanagan said. “We have an exciting group and are hopeful to make a run in the playoffs. We are really looking to build this year and create a strong core group of returners for next year.”

Teams to beat: Coe-Brown, Oyster River, Milford.

WINNISQUAM

Division: II

Coach: Mark Dawalga (second year).

Last year: 7-10, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Bella Dill, sr.; Ali Max, sr.; Gianna Ball, sr.; Shayla Jordan, sr.; Anaya Mondesir, sr.; Caidyn Carter, jr.

Top newcomers: Payton Collins, sr.; Alexis Mingolla, jr.; Anna Drinkwine, jr.; Danica Weymouth, so.; Sophie Fair, fr.; Avrill LaBranche, fr.

Outlook: Although the Bears have several returning players, “This will be a completely different team,” according to Dawalga.

“We will see many new players taking on different roles,” Dawalga said. “We do have a solid group returning. Led by our seniors Dill, Ball, Mondesir, Jordan and Max, as well as junior Carter. I will lean on this group a lot this year. They know what it takes to get to where we want to go. This core group has been outstanding all preseason. Their leadership has been amazing, as we get our new players up to speed.  (Our newcomers) all have been working hard everyday to pick things up. It really has been fun to watch. I really believe in this group. … One thing I know for sure is that this group is excited to get our season going.”

Teams to beat:  “We know every night playing in Division II will be a challenge,” Dawalga said. “We will take it one game at a time. Trying to improve every day and hopefully peaking at the right time.”

BELMONT

Division: III

Coach: Andy Edgren (fourth year).

Last year: 12-5, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Mariah McKimm, sr., OH; Sophia Gilbert, sr., S; Liv Chandonnait, jr., OH; Megan Dutton, sr., OH/DS; Hayden Blanchard, jr., MH; Madi McDonald, so., S; Molly O’Connell, so., OH/DS.

Outlook: After going 5-11 in 2021 and 2022, the Raiders made a huge improvement last season. Edgren credits captains McKimm, Gilbert and Chandonnait for leading the buy-in from the players to turn the program around.

“Their leadership of the team has been outstanding the past two years,” Edgren said. “The players have a work ethic unlike anything I’ve seen in 30 years. They don’t expect to be successful without hard work, and many of them finish a grueling varsity practice, only to stay an additional two hours for JV practice, just to get more touches.”

 

FRANKLIN

Division: III

Coach: Raegan Yarbrough (third year)

Last year: 4-12, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Ava Kolacz, jr., RS; Laura Colprit, sr., S; Scarlett Martin, sr., L; Maddie Doherty, jr., S; Lily Cornell, so., OH.

Top newcomers: Charleigh Kimball, jr., S/OH.

Outlook: The Golden Tornadoes were one victory shy of tying for the final playoff position and are aiming for a top-10 spot in the Division III standings this season. The nine-player roster is all upperclassmen except for two sophomores and is led by senior captains Colprit and Martin. Colprit will lead the offense as the setter, while Martin will anchor the defense as libero. Franklin also gets a boost from the arrival of Kimball, a transfer from Winnisquam who is “Ready to step in as a setter or hitter as needed and proves to be one of the best servers on our team,” according to Yarbrough.

“Having a team of primarily upperclassmen, the girls have found their footing as a cohesive unit on the court,” Yarbrough added.

Teams to beat: “Inter-Lakes and Portsmouth Christian will be our toughest matches of the season, but every match will be a fight for the top,” Yarbrough said.

 

KEARSARGE

Division: III

Coach: Meg Lane (first year)

Last year: No team in 2023.

Returning starters: Gabrielle Lamb, sr.; Claire MacCreighton, sr.

Top newcomers: Alyssa Wheeler, Isabel Bernard.

Outlook: The Cougars are still seeking their first varsity victory after going 0-15 in their inaugural season in 2022. The program didn’t have enough players to field a team last year, but are eager to compete in 2024. Senior captains Lamb and MacCreighton provide some experience.

“With bringing the program back we have a lot of interest and a very large JV team containing mostly freshmen players,” Lane said. “We have a lot of things to work on this season, but we are excited to have our athletes playing again.”