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BEAVER TOWNSHIP -- As the YSU women's volleyball program continues to celebrate its Golden Anniversary season, this year's Penguin squad is a determined group looking to finish on a positive note under the tutelage of first-year head coach Riley Jarrett.
Jarrett is a Northeastern Ohio native - she hails from Lorain, was a four-year starter for the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders who ended her career among the program's top-10 in career hitting percentage, career assists and career assists per set. Jarrett said her hiring as the 11th head coach in program history was the challenge she has anxiously awaited since becoming a head coach.
"After I graduated from Mount Union, I went to West Liberty University and served as an assistant coach for two years before getting the head coaching job," Jarrett told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday's meeting at Avion Banquet Center. "This first year, it has been all about changing our culture here at YSU both on and off the court. It's making sure what we are for the volleyball program and that is competitive, accountable and passionate. Those are important things we have been trying to instill in our players. It's also about making sure we have good team chemistry and a good team environment off the court, too."
Jarrett's first Penguin roster includes 15 players - there are three fifth-year players, one senior, three juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen - who have bought into Jarrett's coaching philosophy.
"We are a whole new coaching staff and a whole new team with some experience, players who have obviously contributed the last few seasons at other programs," Jarret said. "It is a mix of everything from upper class to underclass players and just making sure that we can find us jelling and working to mesh together. That has been big in both practices and games. We have gone through a lot of different lineups, so it's finding out the best six players we can put out there and who is playing best next to each other."
Two local players, junior Abbie Householder of Canfield and Salem's Zoie Reed, a sophomore, as well as three others from the state of Ohio dot Jarrett's first Division I roster.
"Abbie is a huge part of YSU volleyball," Jarrett said. "When teams are scouting us, the first person they are talking about is Abbie Householder. She has had a great year, works really hard, is a tough competitor who wants to win and I think being where she is at and her role on the team, she carries a lot of weight. She has done a wonderful job in that role. She leads us in kills (234) and points (272.5), plays all six rotations and doesn't come off the floor. Zoie was added very late, before I got hired in the spring by the previous coaching staff and we just love her energy.
"The other three players from the state of Ohio include junior Julia Sell and Maria Insana of Chagrin Falls Kenston and Teagan Ng of Sunbury Big Walnut. It is something that we are looking forward to maintaining in the future for our program. I'm definitely passionate about it, being from Northeastern Ohio because we want to recruit a little bit more locally and try to stay within the state. It is great having those ladies that are obviously from the state because that is only going to help us with recruiting in the future.
"In addition to Abbie, Isabel Schaefbauer is our fifth-year setter who has played every single set as well. She leads our team in assists (521) and has been an integral part of leading our offense. She is one of our captains, while another player who has made a significant impact with kills (87) this year is Kiyah Franklin. Kiyah has been injured the past few seasons but has worked hard to come back. Gabriella Machin is a sophomore who is really coming on, and we are excited to see what the second half of the season can do for her."
YSU finished the non-conference portion of their slate 6-6 but have gone 0-5 since in the challenging Horizon League.
They will be looking to break their five-game tailspin this weekend when they play host to Wright State University on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (2 p.m.) at the Beeghly Center.
"We have been in all of our conference games while playing a really tough first half of our league schedule," Jarrett said. "We've played the second-ranked team, fourth-ranked team and this weekend will play the top-ranked team in Wright State. We are right there, we're fighting, the effort is there, the want is there and that's what we keep telling them, to just stay confident, keep grinding, keep working because one of these matches will go our way and that is a direct result of being more consistent on the court."
On Monday, Bob Hannon, YSU football play-by-play announcer who is in his 36th season of broadcasting Penguins' grid games, will serve as guest speaker.