Northern Tier West Sports ReportWELLSBORO — Head Coach Darci Pollock welcomed back the Wellsboro volleyball team this week and is excited with the amount of experience the Lady Hornets return.
“We’ll have four seniors with a lot of experience,” says Pollock, “and we’ll also be returning most of our varsity from last year. We have a lot of upperclassmen this year so it will be nice to be on the older side.”
The Hornets finished 17-5 last season and made it back to the District IV semifinals before falling to eventual champ Loyalsock, after winning the title in 2024.
Pollock will look to her returning seniors for leadership and production.
Maddy Cruttenden is back after being named All-State in 2025. The Hornets’ libero led Wellsboro with 341 digs and added 163 points with 54 aces and 37 assists.
Classmates Ellie Largey (315 assists, 149 digs, 170 service points, 33 aces), Blake Eckart (168 kills, 215 digs, 118 points, 44 aces) and Mazie Johnson round out Pollock’s senior class.
A quartet of returning starters will be looked to for continued production, led by the 2025 All-Tioga County ‘Breakout Player of the Year’, junior Peyton Keane (192 kills, 61 aces, 171 service points) and including classmates Kendall Sweet (171 points, 56 aces, 116 kills, 42 digs), Ady Frantz (175 kills, 30.5 blocks, 23 digs, 21 points) and Jill Mickey (149 digs, 51 service points, 13 aces).
“We also have a group of juniors that will be stepping into bigger roles this season,” says Pollock, “including Teagan Novinger, Delaney Morral, Kaylee Frazier, Leah Sweet, Lacie Brutsman and Maddy Flannery. We have a wide range of hitters to allow flexibility from game to game.”
Pollock says that the Lady Hornets had a busy summer .. with open gyms, workouts, team bonding events and a team camp at Shippensburg University .. all geared toward achieving some lofty goals.
“The girls have set many team goals this year,” says Pollock, “they’re eager to get back to the District Championship. They’re a determined group and working hard .. I’m excited to see what they accomplish this season!”
