After a season of struggles, the Avon Eagles are trying to put the pieces together to go on a run.
The 2022 season didn’t go Avon’s way, as the Eagles went 9-14 overall and 7-7 in conference play for a fifth-place finish. Only losing two seniors from that team, things are looking up.
New coach Kara Coffman also gives Avon a postseason pedigree after delivering Vermilion its first two district titles in school history the past two years.
It can be rocky when a new coach comes in, but Coffman and the players have clicked since she arrived, and they’re ready to go.
“The transition has been awesome. We’ve been in the gym a lot,” Coffman said. “We’ve had a really great summer, a great preseason. Everything’s starting to come together, so we’re excited for the season.”
Despite a tough season last year, Avon was competitive in a strong SWC. The Eagles also had Wadsworth on the ropes on the road in a sectional final, but fell to the Grizzlies in a five-set thriller. That match proved the Eagles weren’t far off where they had to be, and that has created a chip on the players’ shoulders.
Coming so close last year, the Eagles feel like they didn’t play to their potential. To get ready to do so this season, there’s been a lot of energy in the gym. The players were already excited, and once Koffman was able to match the energy, it’s been a good fit for everyone.
“I was definitely excited because I’m open to trying something new. As soon as we got on the court, I knew it was going to be a great year because she’s an amazing coach,” sophomore Londyn Stone said. “I already loved her energy as soon as we walked in.”
As a freshman, Stone was the team’s best attacker with an average of 3.6 kills per set. She has taken another leap entering sophomore year really knowing what it takes to succeed at the varsity level. She obviously had a lot of success, but she’s worked even harder to prepare for 2023.
“Coming back this year has shown me that last year as an incoming freshman, I had a lot to prove,” Stone said. “I think this year coming in, I’m working harder than I was before and pushing myself farther.”
This is still a young team by age as three sophomores will start after playing a lot as freshmen. However, that experience was invaluable. Stone, Bethany Sherwood and Lily Hamilton all played a lot last season, and the Eagles will start four seniors who got major playing time as juniors, too.
In multiple ways, it was a growing year. It might not have been what the team expected, but the struggles in the past have helped shape what can be a really good team this year.
“I think having a lot of returners from last year has helped everyone gain confidence,” senior Grace Busold said. “Everybody’s got experience under their belt, and that helps a lot. Our team chemistry is unmatched, and we’re all comfortable next to each other.”
As dominant as the SWC has been in volleyball, it’s no secret a lot of talent from the conference graduated. Olmsted Falls was senior-heavy on the way to an undefeated conference record. Amherst and North Ridgeville lost talented seniors. Avon Lake returns everyone, and Avon returns a lot, too.
The moral of the story is the SWC title race is wide open. Make no mistake, Avon is going for it.
“The conference championship is definitely something that we talk about,” Coffman said. “I’m glad that the girls are confident in achieving that, and we foresee ourselves up there and hopefully clinching that title.”
