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BEAVER TOWNSHIP -- For the first time since the 2013-14 seasons, the Youngstown State volleyball team is in position to finish with consecutive winning campaigns while authoring the only two Horizon League non-losing years.
The architect of that turnaround is head coach Riley Jarrett, who has taken the program from a 9-20 team prior to her arrival in 2024 to a team that finished 17-14 a season ago and looks to finish in the top four. It is 11-12 overall and 7-5 in conference play in the league as it eyes a first-round tournament bye.
"We recruit players that want to win, work hard and the end result is we have a group that is highly competitive," Jarrett told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday's meeting at Avion Banquet Center. "They buy in to everything we are asking of them, and I think that’s the big thing when you’re trying to turn around a program. You have to get players who are going to believe in the vision, along with a staff that is going to help you with that belief.
"We’ve had a lot of buy-in from the players we have been able to bring in here the last few years and then from our two full-time assistants as well. Everyone really cares and wants to help take the program to the next level."
This year's roster is composed of 17 players, nine of whom hail from Ohio, two have Pennsylvania roots with one local player, four-year standout Abbie Householder of Canfield, who was granted a fifth-year of eligibility.
"Abbie pursued that on her own, so she is eligible and will remain on our roster," Jarrett said. "As of right now, she is eligible so that is why she has been playing with us. She does a great job leadership-wise, has seen this program through the good and bad and we’re happy to have her, along with the leadership that she provides.
"Our young players have been a big reason for the turnaround, too. If you look at our upperclass players, we have a lot of new ones who just joined us this past spring. We might be young, but three of our leaders are sophomores who were named captains and one is a junior, so we are led by a lot of young players, which has both pros and cons. Their youth shows at times, but they are doing a great job.
"No matter what age, they are all out to help one another and keep all of us on the same page. As for our freshman and sophomore classes, they are 10 young players who really understand our vision for this program."
In addition to Householder, the lone fifth-year player, the Penguins' six juniors include Ava Prince (Casstown), Teagan Ng (Sunbury), Ashlee Gnau (Northville, Mich.), Juliana Rivera (Manati, Puerto Rico), Wrigley Takats (Perrysburg) and Kylie Surratt (St. Louis), the five sophomores are Brie Habeeb (Independence), Izzy Henry (Clarkston, Mich.), Kameron Blizniak (Romeoville, Ill.), Ava Stratton (Chicago) and Layne Graffice (Alliance). The freshman class is Natalie Carr (Canonsburg, Pa.), Journey Nicola (New Concord), Makayla Keibler (Pittsburgh), Hayden Rodriguez (Oregon) and Korina Barber (Pickerington).
You have to go back to the 1998-2000 seasons when former head coach Joe Conroy guided the Penguins to three consecutive home winning seasons.
After going 11-7 last season at Zidian Family Arena, Jarrett has her squad poised for back-to-back home winning campaigns, noting the importance of support when playing on their hardwood.
"Playing at home is great for our staff and players," Jarrett said. "It’s just a great environment, hard for opponents with the screaming and yelling, but fun for us. Being able to play at home, sleep in our own beds and keep the same routine, that is important for a student-athlete. Like our opponents, we love playing at home.
"Also, we are excited for the remaining home games, looking to finish strong with the goal to remain in the top-four in the conference and receive that first-round bye."
Jarrett considers the Horizon league one of the most competitive on the Division-I level.
"When you look at our RPI, we have multiple teams ranked in the top-100 of Division I," she said. "We played Wright State and NKU this past weekend, and both are in that grouping, so the league is tough, yet winnable. If you recruit the right people and have a strategic gameplan, on any given day anyone can win, and that is why we were excited for the opportunity to play the No. 1 and No. 2 teams.
"A first-round tournament bye is the goal, we finished third last year and would love to be able to do that or finish higher this year. It's a great opportunity and we are excited for the challenge with four matches remaining."
As the regular season winds down, finishing strong is paramount for Jarrett and her Penguins.
"We had those two matches last weekend and have four remaining, of which three are at home. That's a really nice feeling," she said. "We have Oakland upcoming on a split weekend, then Green Bay and Milwaukee, so all teams at or toward the top of the conference remain on our schedule.
"I think the big thing with this group is just continuing to be confident and instilling confidence in them. These are games that we can win in a league that is very winnable, so loving the grind that comes from this point to the end of the season, remaining confident and consistent will be the key."
Next week, Bob Hannon, Youngstown State football radio play-by-play broadcaster, will serve as guest speaker.