After Breakout Season, John Marshall Loaded With Seniors For Encore
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MOUNDSVILLE -- Last year's John Marshall Monarch volleyball squad burst onto the scene with a successful fall season that included a 25-9-3 record, an OVAC 5A runner-up finish, a run to the WVSSAC Class AAA state semifinals-- and a lot of turned heads.
"Last year’s team, they just accomplished something really special," John Marshall head volleyball coach Chelsea Eikleberry said. "I do think some people didn’t expect us to have the season that we did, but us coaches and the girls on that team, I think we knew. We talked and worked a lot on a lot of different things last summer, and they made it their goal to get to Charleston, and they knew what it took to get there. They worked extremely hard on the court, in the classroom, on their mental game.
"It was really exciting. Our girls showed what it takes to compete at that level, and I think a lot of people in Charleston may not have known who we were or where we’re at, which is always kind of funny to me when you hear, oh, where’s John Marshall? But I think that kind of set the stage for this group."
As great as the 2025 season was, the encore is the only thing on the Monarchs' mind now as they set sail on their 2026 campaign, beginning with a home matchup against Brooke on Wednesday evening. John Marshall did bid farewell to very important players that graduated last spring, including four starters, but Eikleberry says her team is not short on experience.
"Most of the girls on the team this year got to experience Charleston," Eikleberry said. "They know what that looks like now. They know what that feels like. They’re eager to get back down there. Obviously our goal is to get to Charleston come November, but that’s not our goal today. Every day in the gym, I just tell the girls to get better than the day before, and if they put the work in, hopefully that is where we end up in November."
"I feel like [last season] prepared us a lot to build the team after that because we did have a lot of seniors last year that were in main roles, but I feel like they kind of set it up for us to keep building on it," Sarah Hess, a senior on this year's team, said. "I feel like a lot of our accomplishments kind of showed other people what our team could do."
"I think [last season] really helped us because a lot of us got to experience going to states," Sarah Naome, another Monarch senior, said. "Hopefully we’re gonna make it to states this year, and I don’t think it’ll be as stressful when we’re playing down there. It’s definitely a big difference playing here versus playing in Charleston in such a big arena."
Hess and Naome make for two of a jam-packed senior class on the John Marshall squad. Nine seniors will ply their talents for the Monarchs this fall-- more than enough where JM could sport a full lineup of just fourth-years.
"This year we have nine seniors, which is crazy," Eikleberry said. "They all play an important role on the team. No matter what that role is, they all serve a purpose here. We’re really, really fortunate to have those nine seniors this year.
Having such a large contingent of seniors makes for rare advantages from some of the elder stateswomen's standpoints.
"I think it really builds our bond as a team just because we have nine seniors, we’ve all pretty much played together since sixth grade, we all already have a pretty strong bond, and I think that really helps us play well," Naome said.
"It gives the underclassmen such an example because we have so many older girls that they can look up to and build off of," Hess said. "If they need to ask questions, they can come to every single one of us, and they have so many options. We have a lot of seniors playing different positions, there’s a lot of variety in the seniors."
Eikleberry, in year three of her second stint as head coach of John Marshall, will deploy many of her seniors along her starting unit.
Naome will be a opposite hitter for the Monarchs.
"She’s incredibly talented," Eikleberry said of Naome. "Not only is she an athlete, but she is court-aware."
Seniors Ella Finley, Isla Urbanek and Mya Berisford as well as sophomore Cassidy Blake will also be hitters for Eikleberry, who praised each for their work ethic this offseason.
Junior Paislee Babiczuk will be a middle blocker, as will senior Gracen Chavanak.
Junior Zoey Koontz will step in as the team's libero, moving from defensive specialist.
"She’s putting in the work, she’s playing year-round," Eikleberry said. "She’s a fantastic athlete and she can be anywhere on that floor at any time, so I really look at her as being one of our leaders on the court."
Seniors Bre Defibaugh will be a defensive specialist. Fellow seniors Zoey Gunn and Jenna McCardle should also see time.
Eikleberry called Hess, a returning all-state honorable mention, "a fantastic setter," a spot where junior Gianna Polsinelli will also reside.
"The past two seasons we’ve played with just one setter, but we’re switching things up and running a 6-2 this year, at least that’s the plan," Eikleberry said.
John Marshall's season-opening showdown vs. the Bruins is set for 5:30 p.m. at the John Marshall Fieldhouse.
"This group is extremely eager," Eikleberry said. "They’re ready for this first game, getting it under our belts, feel like what this looks like, putting our rotation in. We want to play our best volleyball, but I know the goal’s not to have our best volleyball tomorrow, but every day just to get better and be our best come November."