There was a youth movement in area volleyball this year. After the past few years of top teams being senior dominant, it was underclassmen that stole the show.

Here are this year’s Sun-Gazette girls’ volleyball all stars.

Player of the Year

Second runner-up — Darby Stetter, North Penn-Liberty: After sitting and watching the Mounties advance to the state title game from the bench as a freshman in 2019, Stetter shined last year on an undefeated Mounties team that swept through District 4.

The versatile outside hitter was the focal point of the Mountie attack for the first time this year, and took to it like a fish in water. Stetter notched 206 kills to go along with 272 digs and 141 service points. Stetter was the veteran presence on a young Mounties team that once again swept through the NTL, only to have their five-year win streak in District 4 snapped in a massive upset by Wyalusing in the district final.

Stetter was selected to the 2021 Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches’ Association all-state team.

First runner-up — Alli Macensky, Galeton: Macensky, the Sun-Gazette offensive player of the year, was a middle hitter who stepped up in a big way this year.. Macensky notched 249 kills this year, to go along with 49 blocks and 67 aces. The 6-feet, 1-inch Tiger is equally crafty as she is physically imposing, and was utilized as a back row offensive weapon for a Galeton team that came ever so close to winning a district championship this year.

Her improved defense this year, where she tallied 137 digs, allowed her to stay on court and play all six rotations, something that is relatively rare out of a middle hitter.

Macensky didn’t get named all-state, but if she continues to improve at this trajectory, she will be hard to ignore next year.

And the winner is….: Aislyn WIlliams, Canton: Big time players want the spotlight in the biggest spots, and that’s how one would describe WIlliams. The junior middle hitter was not only the most well-rounded player in the area this year, but she was the most clutch. She took over the fifth and final set of their district title win against Galeton, audibly telling her teammates to set her the ball.

She delivered, and on match point delivered the signature kill of area volleyball this year, taking a crucial swing on a 14-13 point down the line to win Canton’s fifth consecutive district championship. She shined in the state playoffs as well, and helped get Canton across the finish line in their state semifinal win over Berlin Brothersvalley.

She finished with 188 kills, 34 blocks, 161 digs, and 36 assists, and was the district’s biggest weapon behind the service line. The Northern Tier League overall player of the year has also been named to the Pennsylvania Association of Volleyball Coaches’ all-state team.

Her stats won’t overwhelm you, but there was consensus across area coaches this year: WIlliams was the best of the best.

“It’s an honor to be awarded this title. My team and coaches have helped me gain the confidence and skills to become a better volleyball player,” Williams said.

These three are joined on the first team by the following:

Adelaide Schmitt,

Williamson

The sophomore libero stepped into the full-time libero role from day one this year for the first time in her career, and she impressed. The Sun-Gazette defensive player of the year recorded 362 digs in 14 matches this year for the Warriors. She never had less than 15 in a match, went over 20 ten times, over 30 four times and over 40 twice. Her signature performance came in Williamson’s 3-2 win over Canton.

Schmitt recorded an astonishing 42 digs, which is impressive enough on its own. It’s even more impressive when you consider that Schmitt tore her ACL in the fourth set, and played through the tear in the fifth set without losing a step. It would be the last match she would play all year, as her brilliant sophomore campaign came to a close much too early. Schmitt’s leadership is what puts her over the top.

The daughter of two coaches, she is a coach on the floor and was the team leader for Williamson.

Johanna Baker,

Williamsport

Baker is this year’s Sun-Gazette setter of the year. The senior has been a rock for the rising Williamsport program, and has been a four year starting setter for the Millionaires.

Baker saved her best campaign for last, as Williamsport credited her with an astonishing 503 assists. She also contributed to the attack and block as well, and led the Millionaires in service points. She ran a dynamic offense, feeding the ball to standout hitters like Elise Berthold and Jayden Ulmer, among others.

Williamsport volleyball will surely soar to heights greater than they have so far, but Baker helped set the foundation, helping the program become a winning program in just four years of existence.

Elise Berthold, Williamsport

Berthold had a season to remember. The junior outside hitter shined this season, as she was two kills shy of going over 200 kills, points and digs this year.

Berthold added finesse to her game this season, learning the true craft of the outside hitter position, where having a varied attack is key.

Jillaney Hartford, Canton

The junior middle hitter is as steady as they come. Her 108 kills and 38 blocks were among the top in the area. Hartford developed significantly in the offseason after her sophomore season, becoming a more crafty and well-rounded middle hitter who could find the entire court with her swings. When things were going poorly for Canton, Hartford was always there to go get a big kill.

Emma Owlett, Wellsboro

It was a down year for a Wellsboro program used to winning, as they barely missed districts, believed to be the first time in the over 40 year history of the program.

However, Owlett continued a long tradition of fantastic Hornet outside hitters as she racked up an impressive 219 kills in 20 matches this year, despite having defenses nearly solely focused on her. The senior is undersized at just 5-5, but she may be the most explosive leaper in the area and used the entire court well this season.

Reese Doyle, Central Mountain

The senior opposite hitter/setter was Central Mountain’s most important player this year, as she was first on the team in assists and aces, and second in kills. Doyle presented good size at 5-10 and gave teams fits no matter where she was in the rotation for a Central Mountain team that beat some of the area’s best this year.

Second team: Aubrey Pequinot, Liberty, Rachel Martin, Canton, Riley Sargent, Williamson, Erica Haag, Williamsport, Kylie McDermott, Central Mountain, Allyson Butcher, Canton, Olivia Rohrbaugh, Galeton, Abby Carson, Williamsport, Keri Wesneski, Canton

Coach of the Year

Second runner-up — Patti Jones, Williamsport: It’s only been four years since the start of the Milionaires’ volleyball program. After winning zero matches in 2018, the program has been on a steady rise under Jones and her staff and went 13-7 in best-of-five mathes this year, the most wins in school history, surpassing last year’s total of eight.

They also saw tournament success, taking second at the Shikellamy tournament early in the season. This year, the Millionaires broke through against some of the traditional power programs in District 4 and beat Wellsboro, Towanda and Williamson. With players like Elise Berthold and Jayden Ulmer returning next year, it’s hard to picture Williamsport not taking another step forward next year.

First runner-up — Lenore Schmitt, Williamson: Schmitt has turned around a Williamson program that played for a state title in 2012 but had fallen on hard times in the mid 2010s. When they took a set off of North Penn-LIberty, then winners of some sixty league matches in a row, early in the season, people took notice.

Williamson beat eventual state semifinalists in Canton late in the season and looked prime to capture the Class AA district crown, only for injuries to derail their season following that Canton win. Williamson finished 12-7, despite featuring just three upperclassmen.

Schmitt will not be back next year, and whoever takes over will have huge shoes to fill.

And the winner is … Shelia Wesneski, Canton: Wesneski may be one of the best coaches in District 4 that not many know about, regardless of sport. The 25-year veteran has won a plethora of league and district titles, and had a state final appearance under her belt, but this may have been her best job yet.

Canton lost nine players and multiple multiple crucial pieces from last year’s state quarterfinalists and only one player returned in their position from a year ago. They struggled in the season-opening Williamson tournament, failing to place in the top three, and it seemed like someone else would be taking the Class A district crown, ending Canton’s run at four.

The Warriors went 13-3 in the regular season, as Wesneski’s team continually improved. It was their play in the postseason that embodied why Wesneski is so good.

Just two days after losing in the regular season finale 3-0 to Northeast Bradford, the Warriors found themselves down 1-0 to the Panthers in the district semifinals. They stormed back to win 3-1, and beat Galeton in five-set thriller to capture the district championship, a match that Wesneski made a crucial adjustment to serve placement after they trailed 1-0.

Canton trailed in that final set played to fifteen 12-8, before the Warriors showed the grit that Wesneski’s teams always have.

After blowing out Blue Ridge in the state’s first round, Canton beat Berlin Brothersvalley in another five-set classic in a match the Warriors looked out of multiple times and advanced to the state semifinals.

“We had only seven true varsity players and a few underclassmen that dressed in case of an injury, sickness, or someone needed a break. When we started our season, it was not pretty. We used it as a life lesson and got to work. I tried to find new drills that they would enjoy doing and some they didn’t like which would hopefully push them past their comfort zone. We challenged each other and did not always agree but we always figured it out as a team. I knew this team was very talented. they just needed to work together as a team and believe in themselves. Their growth from the beginning of the season to the end, that is what coaching is all about,” Wesneski said.

Breakthrough Underclassman of the Year

Co-second runner-up — Peyton Chapel, North Penn-Liberty: The sophomore middle stepped into a proud tradition of Mountie volleyball this year in a big way, tallying 113 kills to go along with 43 blocks and 150 service points. The lanky middle hitter is as quick as anyone in the district off their feet, and her long arms help her win net battles.

Co-second runner-up — Jayden Ulmer, Williamsport: Ulmer was the premier freshman in the area this year, in a sport where freshmen seldom contribute on good teams. She tallied 108 kills and 80 total blocks, 58 of them solo, which was among the area leaders. Ulmer may be the best pure athlete they’ve had in the Williamsport program so far, and the sky is the limit for her.

First runner-up — Paige Lodgson, Wellsboro: Wellsboro is a program that has traditionally not played freshmen, but Lodgson was simply too good for Hornet coach Sharon Zuchowski to ignore. The 6-0 freshman was the area’s best blocker this season, notching 92 blocks to go along with 125 kills.

What’s so impressive about Lodgson is, even with her imposing size, her body control and balance is that of much older player at that age. Lodgson looks to be a definite all-state candidate starting next year.

And the winner is … Taylor Rae Jones, Williamson: The sophomore lefty is going to become quite the big name in District 4 athletics, and this volleyball season was her breakout campaign.

Standing 5-10 and lanky, Jones played all over the court for Williamson. She played some outside hitter and some middle for Williamson in the front row, and was a six-rotation player who helped Williamson on the defensive end as well, notching 318 digs to go along with 161 kills.

Jones dominated at times, and was the best attacker on the floor in their win over Canton. It’s been a rough few weeks for Williamson as they process their coach and starting libero leaving, but Jones, as well as some other good young Warriors, provides an exceptional starting point for next season.

Players to Watch

Marissa Ostrander, Canton, Mae Kinner, Canton, Olivia Rockey, Central Mountain, Keely Rohrbauch, Central Mountain, Eve Cole, Galeton, Johanna Dickerson, Galeton, Hannah Winter, Loyalsock, Emma Belcher, Loyalsock, Sage Lehman, North Penn-Liberty, McKenna Lightner, North Penn Liberty, Alexandra Urena, Wellsboro, Emily Starkweather, Wellsboro, Gracie Stephens, Williamson, Joelie Stephens, Williamson, Aubrey Glosser, Williamsport, Abby Carson, Williamsport