Following are the 2024 high school preview capsules for volleyball:

ECC

Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Jack Biggs (27th season)

Key returnees: Sr. OH Abby Parulis; Sr. DS Avery Stadler; Sr. DS Bella Jaramillo; Sr. LH Julia Moores; Jr. OH Finnley Wilson; Jr. DS Jordyn Skinner; Jr. OH Alaina Sartori; Jr. S Megan Romanowicz; Jr. MH Rilynn Pollard; Jr. RS Taylor Kachinsky; Jr. S Bella Diep; Jr. OH Shrey Bhagwat.

Top newcomers: So. Natalie Knowlton.

Outlook: Parulis, an All-ECC pick, was listed among GameTimeCT “top 25 players to watch” in Connecticut this year. Biggs likes the core returning from last year’s 21-3 team that won the ECC Division I tournament. “We’ll rely on serving and defense for a successful season,” Biggs said.

NFA

Coach: Raleighe Orszulak-Borecki (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. OH Stella Hogan; Sr. MH Emily Orcutt; Sr. OH Evelina Klyukin; Soph. S Savannah Guernsey; Jr. S Faustine Canales Arrieta; Jr. RH Petra Berry.

Top newcomers: Jr. MH/RH Tiyanna Taylor; Fr. Libero Lindsey Silva.

Outlook: The Wildcats (16-8) showed massive improvement last season, going from 3-15 in 2022 to the ECC tournament semifinals. Hogan, Orcutt and Klyukin were all part of the run that included eight straight wins at one point in the regular season.

Waterford

Coach: Amanda Kostek (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Libero Ava Majeski; Jr. M Lucy Walker; Sr. M Addison Mobley; Jr. OH Jennifer Macca-Barnes; Sr. OH Brielle Kenney; Jr. S Danica Agsalud; Sr. DS Lyra DeAngelis

Top newcomers: Jr. DS Addison Brothers; Soph. S/RS Mia Majeski

Outlook: Waterford (20-5, ECC Division II champion) must replace Emerson Lane, one of the best players in program history and a second team Class L all-state pick. But there's plenty of experience here among the returning players. "I have a very positive outlook for this season," Kostek said. "It’s a well-rounded group of determined athletes that are hungry for success and I think they are ready to compete. It’s going to be an exciting season." The Lancers move up a level to compete in ECC Division I.

(Woodstock Academy also competes in Division I.)

Division II

Fitch

Coach: Steve Banks (27th season)

Key returnees: Sr. OH Abby Malone; Jr. MH Katie Virtue.

Top newcomers: Sr. S Emma Main; Sr. S Camille Monsale; Jr. S May Serraro. Soph. OH Maddy Nahass; Sr. OH Dynastee Pena; Sr. Libero Sage Overmoyer; Sr. DS CoCo Vincente; Sr. DS Natalie Helme; Soph. MH Leilani McCoy; Sr. RS Sydney Wigle; Jr. RS Jelena Francis.

Outlook: Banks, who retired from the program four years ago, takes over again. He said serving and defense will be the strengths, as will Malone on the outside and Virtue and McCoy in the middle. “We are looking to bounce back from a tough season last year,” Banks said. Fitch (6-15) moves from Division I to Division II.

Griswold

Coach: Jamie Bruno (19th season)

Key returnees: Sr. OH Abigail Matheson; Sr. OPP Summer McClean; Sr. MH Kierra Neilson; Jr. L Carly Rubino; Soph. S Bella Bruno.

Top newcomers: Jr. M Natalia Toucet; Soph. OH Rebecca Marsh; Soph. OH/OPP Sophie Geer.

Outlook: The Wolverines (13-9) are normally among the ECC’s top programs. Bruno doesn’t see much changing in 2024, backed by a pair of all-conference hitters in Matheson and Neilson. “We look to be competitive in the ECC and the state again this year,” he said. “It will take some time to fill some holes in our lineup and bring some new and younger players up to speed, but as the season progresses we will become more competitive.”

Ledyard

Coach: Jeff Cummings (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. OH Isabella Schweitzer, Jr. S Faith Dalton, Sr. RS Anna Maynard, Sr. MH Lorelai England

Top newcomers: OH Lily Weirs, MH Alana Brewer, RS Nora Gambardella, S Braylyn Johnson, L Shiloe Mckeon, DS Riley Depasquale.

Outlook: The Colonels (8-14) graduated seven seniors, so Cummings will look to his three senior veterans and talented newcomers to lead. This season, “we focus on building a cohesive team emphasizing resilience, adaptability and a strong work ethic. We aim to foster growth, build chemistry and compete at a high level,” Cummings said.

(Killingly also competes in Division II.)

Division III

Bacon Academy

Coach: Scott Dumond (9th season)

Key returnees: Jr. OH Maddie Meyer; Sr. OH/DS Bailey Handwerk; Sr. Libero Dominique Sanchez; Sr. OPP Julia Cavaliere; Jr. OPP/DS Leyia Hall; Jr. S Jillian Snow.

Top newcomers: Jr. OPP Lily Koziol; Jr. OH Rachel Rumph; Jr. DS Vera Korzhoff; Jr. DS Olivia Barnett; Jr. DS Deya Ruiz; Fr. DS Allie Field; Fr. OPP/S Abi Bantle; Fr. OH Bridget Walsh; Jr. S Cori Toennes; Jr. MB Bela Dec; Jr. MB Emma Aivaliotis.

Outlook: Dumond listed mostly freshmen and juniors who will gain valuable experience, indicating good days might be ahead for the program. He said, “a good mix of veteran leadership and young talent has us ready to compete and be successful.” Bacon (9-11) moves from Division II to Division III.

Lyman Memorial

Coach: Scott Stonoha (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. L Erica Arpin; Sr. OH Laurelin Boyer; Soph. OH Isabella Shuckerow; Jr. MH Casey Gigliotti; Sr. DS Rowan LaFleur.

Top newcomers: Jr. S Ayanna Dillman; Sr. MH Emily Torres.

Outlook: The Bulldogs (10-13) have one of the most competitive schedules in the state — and certainly among small public schools, with Coventry, Manchester, East Catholic and Haddam-Killingworth. “I believe the leadership from the seniors will help propel the team through the ECC tournament and state tournament,” Stonoha said. “Developing our underclassmen will be crucial for the success of the program this year.”

Montville

Coach: Harold Branstrom Jr. (10th season)

Key returnees: Sr. S Mackenzie Payne; Sr. Libero Alyna Ovalles; Sr. DD Jessica Hochdorfer; Jr. OH Liz Maffeo; Jr. MB Anna Bubucis; Jr. MB/OPP Savannah Malinowsky.

Top newcomers: Jr. OH Zoe Molnar; Jr. MB Shea Cullen; Soph. OH Payton Jones; Soph. OPP/DS Kayla Terni.

Outlook: The defending ECC Division II tournament champ has what Branstrom calls “a solid corps of returning players,” meaning the Wolves (21-4) can contend for a division title. “We look forward to a season of success, development and love of the game,” Branstrom said.

(Plainfield also competes in Division III)

Division IV

New London

Coach: Missy Parker (7th season)

Key returnees: Sr. OH Ky'Ani Allgood; Sr. S Cashel Jones; Sr. L Raelyn Lopez; Jr. OH Mercedes Pratts; Jr. DS Myrna Pratts; So. S Adriana Vitorino; So. S Alyse Manley; So. L Tarah Futrell.

Top newcomers: Fr. MH Ka'Maya Little; Fr. MB Mia Donastorg; Fr. S Gabrielle Green; Fr. S Jacey Prescott.

Outlook: Parker: “With the returning leadership of Cashel Jones and Ky'Ani Allgood, combined with the experience and the immense potential of the returning and new players, the hard working Whalers will be competitive this season.” The Whalers were 10-13 with berths in the ECC Division II and Class L state tournaments.

Wheeler

Coach: Cailin Sorder (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. MB Addison Stanley; Sr. Libero Abby Butremovic; Sr. OH Allison Needham; Sr. OH Carissa Manfredi; Sr. DS Leila Gagnon; Sr. S Anna Barber; Sr. RS Hannah Wright; Jr. MB Jada Overmoyer; Soph. Elsa Kalwara.

Top newcomers: Jr. RS Morgyn Perkins; Jr. OH Kaelin Rose.

Outlook: Sorder, an assistant for two previous seasons, begins her first as head coach. She likes the seven seniors on the roster, saying, “Our senior leadership is strong and they are building the foundation for a competitive, successful season. The team is working hard and working together each day they take the court which sets the tone for the entire program.” Wheeler was 9-13.

(Putnam and Windham also competes in Division IV.)

Others

Old Lyme

Coach: Erin Crayton (19th year)

Key returnees: Jr. OH Maya LeQuire; Sr. Libero Molly Boardman.

Top newcomers: Fr. MH Lily Acosta; Fr. MH Jillian Kleefeld; Fr. S Katie Ferman.

Outlook: Crayton said the team’s sights are set on making the postseason. “This season we will focus on nurturing emerging talent while capitalizing on our experienced players' strengths,” Crayton said. “With a blend of seasoned athletes and promising newcomers, we aim to build a cohesive unit. Our sights are set on reaching the postseason, and the team is committed to putting in the work to get there.” Old Lyme was 10-13.