Season Recap

The 2017 volleyball season was another stellar season in Trojan volleyball history as the girls dominated the competition on their way to capturing IVC North, Sectional, District, and Regional championships.

The girls entered the season with high expectations but also with a bit of uncertainty as to how the 2017 season would play out.  After coming within one set of the 2016 state title, the team had holes to fill as they lost Samantha Pruett, Kayla Hall and Clara Ackerman to graduation.  The holes were filled seamlessly as Alexis Gilland and Abbi Gillson returned home to Tusky Valley for their senior season and freshman Arora Levengood emerged as the premiere setter in the area.  The trio joined established players Jadyn Kuykendall, Sage Peters, Kierrah Stewart, Jenna Franks and Kilee Stewart along with sophomore Ashlynn Adams and freshman Kaya Russell to form one of the most talented rosters in the illustrious history of Tusky Valley volleyball.

The season started with a bang as the girls dominated Ridgewood on opening night and then swept past Dover and Northwest in a triangular.  The first three matches would set a blueprint for the remainder of the regular season as they girls dominated the competition on a nightly basis on their way to a perfect 22-0 regular season record, including 12-0 in the IVC North.  The Trojans were so dominant that they did not lose a single set during the regular season.

As tournament play began many wondered if the new IVC schedule had prepared the team for tournament play the same way playing against former PAC rivals Triway, CVCA, Orrville and Tuslaw had prepared the 2015 and 2016 teams.  “I think that playing in the new league hurt us as a team because we weren't challenged like we were in previous years being in the PAC,” stated Sage Peters.

The lack of competition didn’t appear to hurt the Trojans as they raced through the early stages of the tournament with little problem.  They defeated Sandy Valley and Coshocton to capture the Sectional title. They then dominated Edison and Buckeye Trail on their way to the District title.  Regional play was no different as the Trojans manhandled Wheelersburg and Southeastern to win the Regional title and qualify for the program’s ninth trip to the state Final Four.

The Trojans earned their ninth trip to the Final Four with a straight set sweep of Chilicothe Southeastern.

The trip to Dayton was also the third consecutive trip to the Final Four as Trojans for seniors Jenna Franks and Kierrah Stewart and junior Jadyn Kuykendall.  The rarity of such an incredible accomplishment was not lost on the girls. “The best thing about being a member of this years volleyball team was being able to make it to state for the third consecutive year,” said Jenna Franks.  “We made it to state for the third year in a row,” noted Jadyn Kuykendall. “It's hard for a team to make it once.”

The team entered the state tournament at 28-0 and still hadn’t loss a set all season.  Their semifinal opponent was the Versailles Tigers. The Tigers came into the contest with a record of just 22-6 but the Tigers played in perhaps the best volleyball conference in the state of Ohio and weren’t intimidated by the Trojans impressive regular season.  “I guess it can be a mind game a little bit seeing that they’ve been so competitive all season, but I also know that our conference has prepared us for whatever team we can face,” Versailles senior Ellen Peters told the Daily Advocate. “We’ve played some of the greatest players in the state of Ohio in Division III and Division IV, and I think that has prepared us for what we’re about to face.”

Once the match tipped off the Tigers’ tough schedule paid dividends as Versailles took control early and took set one 25-17.  It marked the first time all season the Trojans had dropped a set. The Trojans jumped to a big early lead in set two but the battle tested Tigers fought back and stole set two 25-22.  Trailing by two sets, the Trojans battled back and won the third set 25-22 but a Tiger run in the middle of set four doomed the season as Versailles won the fourth set 25-21 and took the match 3-1.

The Trojans fought their hearts out but came up short in their state semifinal matchup vs. Versailles.

While the season did not end with a championship celebration that the girls had worked so hard for it was still a season to be proud of.  “Although the season did not end the way we wanted it to, we had a very successful season and I'm very happy to say I got to be apart of this team,” said freshman Arora Levengood.  Senior Kierrah Stewart may have summarized the 2017 season perfectly when she wrote, “It was really one to remember. The season was filled with spectacular girls and forever memories.”

The end of the season also marked the end of three great careers as Jenna Franks, Kierrah Stewart and Alexis Gilland will move on to play college volleyball.  “The thing I will miss most about being a Trojan volleyball player is all of the friendships I have made over the years and all the love and support we got from our community, ” said Jenna Franks.  Fellow senior Kierrah Stewart also talked about the value of the relationships between Tusky Valley volleyball players. When asked what she would miss the most Stewart noted,.“Being a part of a second family and always being able to count on these girls.”

When asked to describe the 2017 season in just one word perhaps Jenna Franks had the most fitting answer. “Proud,” stated Franks. “We worked extremely hard to get to where we got.”

How would you summarize the 2017 volleyball season?

Alexis Gilland - It was a lot of fun to be able to play with these girls again. We all put in a lot of hard work into this season.

Jadyn Kuykendall - We had a great year and I loved every second of it, we fell short and didn't come ready to play in the semifinals, we should have won it all this year with the talent we had, but i'm only a junior and we'll be back next year to take it all.

Sage Peters - I would summarize this volleyball season as being a challenging one. Not so much our competition but figuring out how to work as a team and overcome different obstacles.

Kierrah Stewart - It was really one to remember; filled with spectacular girls and forever memories.

What was your team’s biggest strength? What was the biggest weakness?

Alexis Gilland - Our biggest strength was our teamwork and how we had players who could step up when other players were having a bad day. Our biggest weakness was communication.

Jenna Franks - Overall the team’s biggest strength was our tournament experience and mental toughness.

Jadyn Kuykendall - Our biggest strength was the amount of skill level and we didn't really have a weak link. Our biggest weakness as a team was our communication on the court.

Arora Levengood - Our biggest strength was all of the hard work that was put in during games and in practice. Our biggest weakness was when our team began to become individualistic and our energy level would drop.

Sage Peters - I think our biggest strength was having such a naturally talented team all around. I think that our biggest weakness was not being able to work as a team all the time no matter what.

Kierrah Stewart - Our biggest strength was our offense and our biggest weakness was communication.

What was the most important factor in having the success you did this season?

Alexis Gilland - How we had a lot of great players, if someone was having a bad day we knew we still had other players on the court and bench that would pull through for us.

Jenna Franks - I think the most important factor in having the success we did this season was the work ethic.

Jadyn Kuykendall - We worked hard all year around and everyone worked equally as hard.

Arora Levengood - The support of my teammates and family.

Sage Peters - The most important factor in having the success we did this season was our coaches pushing us to the max everyday in practice no matter who we were to play next.

Kierrah Stewart - Teamwork

How did playing in the new league affect the team this season?

Alexis Gilland - Playing in the IVC  there wasn't a lot of competition, so we didn't get a lot of hard play like we did in tournaments.

Jenna Franks - I think playing in the new league affected this season a lot.  It didn’t prepare us for tournaments as much as past years.

Jadyn Kuykendall - The IVC had less talent than the PAC which hurt us in the long run, but I felt that we were prepared for the tournaments and the semifinals we just didn't come to play.

Arora Levengood - It negatively affected the team because with little to no competition it didn't help to prepare the team for tournaments.

Sage Peters - I think that playing in the new league hurt us as a team because we weren't challenged like we were in previous years being in the PAC.

Kierrah Stewart - It hindered our play because the competition was tremendously worse.

What was your most memorable moment from the 2017 season (on or off the court)?

Alexis Gilland - Making it to state!

Jenna Franks - The most memorable moment from the 2017 season would have to be making it back to state.

Jadyn Kuykendall - Getting to play with some of the best seniors in the state.

Arora Levengood - Walking onto the state floor.

Sage Peters - All the laughs and memories.

Kierrah Stewart - Doing “We Ready” before every game, but one time when we all busted out laughing during it.

If you could only use one word to describe the season, what would it be and why?

Alexis Gilland - Great

Jenna Franks - If I could use one word to describe the season we had this year it would be “proud.” We worked extremely hard to get to where we got.

Jadyn Kuykendall - Memorable

Arora Levengood - I think this season was beneficial because I played with many talented players that helped me to grow as a player and individual.

Sage Peters - Teaching, because there were many situations in where I was personally mentally and physically challenged and in the end came out stronger.

Kierrah Stewart - Unforgettable

What was the best thing about being a member of this year’s volleyball team?

Alexis Gilland - Being able to make it to state again and being a part of such a great program.

Jenna Franks - The best thing about being a member of this years volleyball team was being able to make it to state for the third consecutive year.

Jadyn Kuykendall - We made it to state for the 3rd year in a row and it's hard for a team to make it once.

Arora Levengood - Being part of a state final four team.

Sage Peters - I think that the best part of being a member of this year’s team was being able to learn things from all different aspects from our seniors.

Kierrah Stewart - The friendships and memories.

What will you miss the most about being a Trojan volleyball player (Seniors Only)?

Alexis Gilland - I will miss playing with so many amazing players and the memories.

Jenna Franks - The thing I will miss most about being a Trojan volleyball player is all of the friendships I have made over the years, and all the love and support we got from our community.

Kierrah Stewart - I will miss being a part of a second family and always being able to count on these girls.

Season Results

2017 Volleyball Awards

Alexis Gilland First Team All-Ohio IVC Player of the Year First Team IVC District 5 Player of the Year District 5 All Star Game Team MVP	Kierrah Stewart First Team All-Ohio IVC Offensive Player of the Year First Team IVC District 5 Player of the Year District 5 All Star Game	Jenna Franks Honorable Mention All-Ohio IVC Defensive Player of the Year First Team IVC First Team District 5 District 5 All Star Game
Abbi Gillson Third Team All-Ohio First Team IVC First Team District 5 District 5 All Star Game	Arora Levengood First Team IVC First Team District 5 Outstanding Setter	Sage Peters Second Team IVC Second Team District 5 Coaches Award
Jadyn Kuykendall Second Team IVC Honorable Mention District 5 Game Changer Award	Kilee Stewart Honorable Mention IVC	Cortney Goodwin IVC Coach of the Year District 5 Coach of the Year OVCA Coaches Achievement Award