By: Isabelle Nussbaum
Last season, the Lady Irish fought hard to secure a spot in the district final. The team defeated a top rival in a five-set thriller against Diller-Odell in the sub-district final. The Irish earned their spot against the #3 seed Cambridge. The team fell short of their ticket into the state tournament with a devastating loss on the road. The ladies finished their season with a winning record of 18-16.
(Front row, L-R) Seniors Dorothy Crouse, Emersyn Courtney, Isabelle Nussbaum, and Hallie Jones. (Middle row, L-R) Freshmen Nataley Witt and Halleigh Fritz, sophomores CeeJay Tisdel and Bailey Lemerond, freshmen Kinlee Jackson, Kendall Johansen, and Aven Kearney. (Back row, L-R) Sophomore Kinley Lechtenberg, junior Ryann Westengaard, sophomore Lena Delaney, freshman Addy Kopf, sophomores Stella Waller, Kemper Sipple, Payten Georges, and Macy Taft.
The 2026 Irish Volleyball team has seen success so far in the season. Seven returning varsity players guide the team that consists of four seniors, one junior, eight sophomores, and six freshmen. Senior floor captain and setter Dorothy Crouse pilots the team. This season, Crouse had to step into a position she had not yet played at the high school varsity level. With four-year starting setter Daycee Witt graduating at the end of last year, the team only returned sophomore setter Bailey Lemerond. Crouse and Lemerond run a 6-2 as all-around opposites. Seniors Hallie Jones, Crouse’s co-captain, and Isabelle Nussbaum work the net as the middle blockers. Nussbaum is a returning middle while Jones has switched positions from the outside. Jones and Nussbaum are relieved by senior returning Libero, Emersyn Courtney. Returning outsides are sophomore Kemper Sipple and junior Ryann Westengaard. Other players who see court time are freshman Nataley Witt and sophomore Payten Georges.
The Irish kicked off their season in the annual jamboree against Auburn on August 20. The team keeps a steady season until the eighth game. The Irish face a common rival: the Diller-Odell Griffins. The team started the game down two sets; the girls felt defeated. They saw a spark of hope and a gain of momentum and came out fiery the next set. Irish win set three in extra points: 27-25. The team was determined to win this game and won the next two sets by four points in each. One of the hardest things to do in the sport of volleyball is a reverse sweep, and the Irish did just that. Walking into game nine against Sidney, the Irish started down two again. Remembering how the team had played just two days before, the team fired back and won the next three sets yet again. Not only did the team achieve two back-to-back reverse sweeps, they earned the champion title at the HTRS Invitational Tournament.
Coming off of a big week, the Irish were seated seventh in the A Division of the annual Mudecas Volleyball Tournament. The team faced Johnson County Central first round and unfortunately lost in a strenuous three-set match. This difficult loss sent the Lady Irish to the left side of the bracket where they competed against Bruning-Davenport-Shickley(BDS). The Irish delivered Head Coach Emma Ebel her first win against BDS. The next round, the Irish faced an old conference competitor— the Exter-Milligan-Friend (EMF) Bobcats. Regrettably, the Irish fell to EMF placing the team sixth.
Courtney and Jones achieved tournament honors, both receiving honorable mentions for the A Division Tournament Team. The Lady Irish also achieved several personal milestones together. Westengaard reached 500 Career Receptions against Bishop LeBlond. Courtney accomplished 500 Career Digs and Jones secured 500 Career Kills against Freeman at home. Jones also received KMALand Player of the Week after her performance during the week of the reverse sweeps and tournament championship.
The starters aren’t the only players who contribute to the team’s successes, though. The bench is always celebrating, motivating, communicating, and cheering their teammates on before, during, and after each rally. Every player is ready to step up when needed. These underclassmen are just as important and do not go unnoticed.
