Girls volleyball: Newark Catholic, Bloom-Carroll eye another run at state
Friday, August 28, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Newark Catholic senior Leah Caudill tips one past the Granville defense in the Green Wave’s comeback win at home Tuesday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
On one hand, the Bloom-Carroll girls volleyball team did something that the program has never done before when it reached the Division III state championship last season. Something to be celebrated, for sure.
On the other hand, the Bulldogs lost in the final to Tipp City Tippecanoe 25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 25-10 to finish 29-2. So, the feeling of achievement is bittersweet and carries some motivation for this season.
“I think it’s hard to balance the two because you want to be so excited and proud because that was the first time we’d done it,” senior libero Kylynne Sollberger said. “We are so proud of what we did … and we just want to get back there. It’s definitely hard because you don’t want to lose in that situation. So, thinking about it now, it’s still a little (bit of) a sore subject.”
Bloom-Carroll was one of five area teams to reach the state tournament, including Newark Catholic, which won the Division VI state championship. Olentangy Orange (Division I), Buckeye Valley (Division IV) and Marion Pleasant (Division V) were the other area teams.
“One of the things we did very well last year was we played pretty consistently,” said Bulldogs coach Kyle McFerin, who is in his sixth season. “We’ve talked more about how consistency in practice or in our effort or in anything we’re trying to do is more important than intensity.”
If there was one team that was the model of consistency last year, it was Newark Catholic.
Bloom-Carroll senior libero Kylynne Sollberger records a dig against Heath during the Bulldogs’ win at home Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The Green Wave, like Tippecanoe, capped a perfect season with a state title when they defeated St. Henry 25-22, 25-23, 25-18 to finish 27-0.
Newark Catholic is almost a complete antithesis to Bloom-Carroll.
The Green Wave made its 23rd appearance at the state tournament and captured its ninth state championship, tied for second all-time with Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy behind Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame’s 10.
The title capped the first undefeated season since 1983 when the Green Wave tied their own state record at 31-0. The program holds the state’s longest undefeated regular season winning streak at 104 games from 1977-82.
“There’s always a target on our back,” said coach Katie Hill, a 2008 graduate who is in her second season leading the program. “People want to beat Catholic. We’ve talked about it – that the target’s even bigger now. Going undefeated was special but people want to be the first (to beat us).”
Hill is leaning into the pressure. Preseason practices have been devoted to finding different ways to put pressure on the team.
“Thriving in a chaotic or stressful environment is what we’re working on practice,” senior outside hitter Leah Caudill said. “We hold ourselves to a high standard knowing that we’re going to get every (opponent’s) best. We want to face that adversity and overcome it.”
It’s already paid off the Green Wave, who are 2-0, with both of their matches coming in Licking County League play. They rallied from behind to defeat Granville 22-25, 26-24, 15-25, 25-20, 15-13 at home on Aug. 25 to open the season.
Newark Catholic followed by beating Johnstown 23-25, 26-24, 25-11, 25-18 for its 71st consecutive victory in league play.
Newark Catholic freshman setter Gabbie Hill (3) sends the ball to the Green Wave hitters during the match against Granville Tuesday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Next, the Green Wave continues LCL action at Licking Heights on Sept. 1.
Newark Catholic graduated five seniors, including four that were a part of a main rotation that included six players.
Caudill (273 kills, 220 digs in 2025) and junior middle hitter Sophia Basham (215 kills, 99 blocks) are the top two returners.
Junior outside hitters Layla Jones (155 kills, 107 digs, 42 aces, 30 blocks) and Aubrey Winters and sophomore middle hitter Lily Anderson will see an increased role this season.
Cailyn Bayerl and freshman Gabbie Hill will rotate in the Green Wave’s two-setter system. Gabbie Hill is coach Hill’s daughter. Defensive roles, including libero are yet to be determined.
“We’re putting a lot of pressure on server receives and defense,” coach Hill said. “(We’re) not making it as easy as we maybe did in some practices last year.”
Bloom-Carroll, which is 2-1 this season and 1-0 in Mid-State League-Buckeye Division play, returns five of its eight main rotation players from last year.
Along with Sollberger (304 digs in 2025), junior setter Renee Smith (922 assists), junior outside hitter Kylee Reeser (220 kills), senior outside hitter Maddie Fox (153 kills) and senior middle hitter Josie Burr (97 blocks) are the top returning statistical leaders from last season.
Reeser is making the move from middle hitter to outside this season. She had 31 kills in the Bulldogs’ first two matches of the year before falling at Gallipolis Galia Academy 25-21, 25-16, 26-24 on Aug. 29.
In Bloom-Carroll’s first two matches, Smith has 75 assists, surpassing 1,000 in her career, Sullberger has 29 digs and Fox has 10 blocks.
The Bulldogs play host to Hartley on Sept. 1.
“We’re going to compete (and) we’re going to fight,” McFerin said. “We’ve tried to carry some of those core beliefs from last year into this year.”
Bloom-Carroll senior Maddie Fox elevates for the hit at the net during the Bulldogs’ match against Heath. Photo: Kevin Rouch