High school volleyball preview: Wadsworth locked and loaded after state run

The 2024 Wadsworth Grizzlies put together the greatest volleyball season in school history, winning 24-of-27 matches and advancing to the Division II state semifinals after winning the Suburban League National Conference crown by a record-setting six games. With All-Ohio second team honorees Lauren Decker and Rowan Kelly returning for their senior years, along with All-SL selection Lilly McComas and a pair of defensive specialists, they're aiming even higher now. "I'm extremely excited to get things started," McComas said. "We've been working hard all preseason and everything is starting to click. Our overall goal is to make it to the state championship and win, but a short-term goal is creating a bond that no one can break." They're well on their way to doing so as outside hitter Decker, setter Kelly and middle hitter McComas have spent a large percentage of the last calendar year together. In addition to their success with the Grizzlies, they were teammates on the NOVA Juniors national team that qualified for the 2025 JO championship. All three referred to their bond as being like sisters, which Wadsworth coach Allyson Wines saw firsthand as she served in the same capacity for them in the club season. "After playing together 12 straight months without a break, their connection is just so strong," she said. "And I think they understand the pressure they're going to be under, but they also thrive in that situation. "They do whatever it takes and do a great job of building up everyone around them." Despite having a figurative target on their backs for the entire fall, the Grizzlies steamrolled the competition in very impressive fashion. They went 14-0 in league play, were undefeated at home and only had one foe push them to five sets during the regular season. In hindsight, Wadsworth's 22-25, 15-25, 25-19, 25-15, 15-6 victory at Brecksville last Aug. 29 lit the competitive fuse that ignited it the rest of the season. It also set the table for what occurred more than two months later in the regional finals. On Nov. 2, the Grizzlies won the final two sets in the regional championship to vanquish Olmsted Falls 25-17, 22-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-13 and earn their first state berth. "The most important thing we learned was the importance of having confidence," Kelly said. "Because in those tight games against some of the best teams, you really have to let go of mistakes and move on because of how fast these games go." Senior defensive specialists Riley Ishee and Emily Snyder were quick to shake off rough points, as well, and were vital components in that historic season. Though Wadsworth graduated All-Gazette libero Maddie Blackburn and middle hitters Reese Kelly and Karley Allwood, its veteran core is as good as any in Ohio in any division. "Our team is really close knit, especially all the seniors," two-time Gazette MVP Decker said. "But we also understand that you need to be extremely focused and deliberate every day in practice, and to be able to hold each other accountable. No games are guaranteed." Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on X.