NTL VOLLEYBALL: ATHENS' DARROW LIKES ENERGY, WORK ETHIC OF YOUNG TEAM HEADING INTO 2025 SEASON (2025-08-25)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens volleyball coach Heather Darrow has an almost completely new varsity roster, but she likes its energy and work ethic heading into the 2025 season.

"This is a hard working team, and it's on a mission to do better than last year," said Darrow. "It's a brand-new team and is very high energy.

"The entire roster except for Ellie Mosher and Regan McDaniel, who saw a lot of playing time last year, and Gretchan Hiley, and Kendall Galasso, who saw some playing time in Districts, is new this year," she noted.

"Hannah Parrish and Meg Wiles played varsity their freshman year and then we decided to keep them together with the JV team last year," added Darrow. "They have great cohesiveness with everyone on the team, and are definitely leaders."

Sophomore Ellie Mosher and junior Gretchan Hiley will see time at outside hitter, right-side hitter, and in the middle, while sophomore Kendall Galasso and senior Regan McDaniel, who is the team's only senior, will see time in the middle and the right-side.

Junior Hannah Parrish will see time on the outside and right-side, as well as at setter, while junior Meg Wiles will see time at setter and defensive specialist.

Sophomore Lainey Vosburgh will see time at libero, and freshman Kayla Forbes will see time at libero, setter, and defensive specialist.

Off the bench, junior Ella Raynor will see time at right-side and outside hitter, while junior Emma Mallare will see time in the front row, and junior Alana Reyes, who is nursing an ankle injury, will also vie for time once healthy.

Darrow says Mosher and Hiley, as well as newcomers Kayla Forbes, Hiley, and Vosburgh are worthy of keeping an eye on in 2025.

Darrow likes what she sees in her player's ability to play multiple positions.

"The versatility with all the players is awesome," she said. "They are staying open-minded about playing different positions at different times."

The versatility also make her job tougher, said Darrow.

"The versatility of the team makes it challenging to decide who goes where and when," she said. "It’s a good challenge to have, but a challenge none the less."

Darrow said her team has a simple goal this season.

"One point at a time, one game at a time," she said. "We want to become a cohesive, focused and competitive team."

With such a young team, Darrow is not focused on wins and losses in 2025.

"I expect the girls will be extremely competitive against everyone they play," she said. "They are a driven squad — a lot of learning, growing and connecting will be taking place.

"I expect we will make mistakes, learn from them and only get better," noted Darrow.

"It is a new varsity team and these girls are excited and driven," she added.

ON THE NTL / DISTRICT 4
"The NTL is always good volleyball, you have to be prepared every night," said Darrow.

"It's our second year in Class 3A, so we added more 3A teams to our schedule to get prepared for possibly playing in Districts," she noted.

"Like I said, though, one point at a time and one game at a time," added Darrow.

Athens opens the 2025 campaign at home Tuesday against Wyalusing.

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