‘They wanted it’: Avery Asp, coach Elizabeth Rundio leading Hilliard Davidson girls volleyball turnaround
Monday, September 28, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Hilliard Davidson’s Avery Asp (8), an Ashland commit, elevates for the hit at the net against rival Hilliard Darby earlier this season. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Avery Asp didn’t really want to talk about the past.
A key component of one of the best turnaround stories in central Ohio, the senior outside hitter for the Hilliard Davidson girls volleyball team is more focused on what’s going to happen next.
The Wildcats are 11-4 overall this season after going just 2-21 a year ago.
“We respect what happened in the past, but we’re also focused on what we’re going to do next,” Asp said. “We’re really close as a team and we’re trying to focus on what we can control. We’re really focusing on our effort, our communication, our preparation and how we respond to adversity.
Davidson started like gangbusters this season, winning 10 of its first 11 matches under first-year coach Elizabeth Rundio.
“My goal was to make it fun again,” said Rundio, who previously coached at Hilliard Darby and later Hilliard Weaver Middle School. “A lot of the girls play club, so they know how to play the sport.
“It’s more that mental toughness they needed (to prove) like, ‘Hey, we know we’re good and we know we can play well.’ And we did that against Canal (Winchester) in our first big game of the year.”
In the second match of the season, the Wildcats came back from a one-set deficit to beat Canal Winchester in four 22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-23 on Aug. 25.
Davidson head coach Elizabeth Rundio is in her first year leading the Wildcats, after spending time guiding Hilliard Darby High School and Weaver Middle School in Hilliard. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“We would have never won that last year,” Rundio said. “They wanted it. They fought to prove to themselves that they could get the job done.”
There is one person in Davidson’s past that the Wildcats are more than happy to acknowledge. They’re honoring former coach Betty Cameron with an ALS awareness night on Sept. 29 when they host Upper Arlington in OCC-Central Division play. Davidson is 1-3 in league play.
Cameron, who coached Davidson for 21 seasons before retiring after the 2020 season, died last September due to complications of ALS. She was 51.
Rundio, who coached at rival Darby for four seasons from 2010 to 2013, finds inspiration from Cameron’s example.
“She definitely had a love for the game,” Rundio said. “(It was) just her work ethic and trying to make things better. (I wanted to) make it where (our players) enjoyed coming and playing and (Cameron) did that.
“She was a tough coach. The kids would develop with her, and they wanted to play for her.”
While the current crop of Wildcat players didn’t know Cameron, however they did know Rundio when she was hired last winter after playing for her at Weaver.
Chemistry has been a big reason for the turnaround, Asp said. The Wildcats have nine seniors on a roster of 12 players. But it’s been a team-wide effort this season.
Sophomore outside hitter Elle Eckert has been a force as a six-rotation player, leading Davidson in kills (154), aces (35) and digs (155).
Only a sophomore, Elle Eckert (right) leads Davidson in kills, aces and digs this season . Photo: Kevin Rouch
Senior middle hitters Morgan Drews (34) and Audrey Garland (29) lead the team in blocks.
Senior Kaitlyn Chenault (124 assists) and juniors Maggie Ray (120 assists) and Charlotte Schulte (102 assists, 19 aces) sharing time at setter.
Seniors Sophie Smith (88 digs) and Lexi Tracy (65 digs) are splitting libero duties.
Senior outside hitter Emma Faulker is having a strong year with 81 kills and 23 blocks.
“We’re definitely proud of (our start),” Asp said. “But I feel like we’re not satisfied with just that.
“We know there’s another level we can reach when we’re playing and there are some tough conference matches coming soon. I think the important thing for us is how we respond.”
As for Asp, she has 131 kills, 152 digs and 22 blocks as a six-rotation player. She’s committed to play at Ashland. She’s planning to major in education because she wants to be a teacher.
Asp may be a coach in the future as she’s coaching in her club program, Elite’s, youth program.
“I fell in love with volleyball when I was 11 and it’s been an important part of my life ever since,” she said. “I think (what made me fall in love with it) is the fact that I’m never perfect at the game. There’s always that piece that is driving me to come back. There’s always something I can be better at.”
Davidson libero Sophie Smith serves against Darby earlier this season in a match at Davidson. Photo: Kevin Rouch