Eight Volleyball Sophomores ‘Made their Mark,’ Two Repeat on All-GVC List

The Eagle volleyball made a statement in its final match of the 2025 fall season, a 3-0 sweep of Lassen that thrilled the large and loud Sophomore Night crowd and upped their overall record to 18-14.

"Everything clicked," said head coach Lyndi Cadola of the 25-23, 25-15, 25-18 victory over a team they'd lost to in straight sets earlier in the season at Lassen. "It was so amazing."

Eagle players and coaches showed their emotions throughout the night, celebrating each point and pumping each other up when things got tough.

"This season has been something special," Cadola said during the Sophomore Night banquet that followed. She said the team achieved two of its three big goals, finishing above .500 for the first time in her six years as coach, "and hitting an impressive 85% from the service line."

This was also the first time since Cadola came to Siskiyous that the volleyball team was ranked in the state's Top 25 at any point in a season. That happened in late September when the Eagles moved up to No. 24 with a 13-3 preseason record that included a 9 match winning streak with victories in 27 out of 30 sets.

"This is a team that played great in the preseason, then had some hiccups in conference, but kept fighting to get back to that," she said.

The Eagles finished fifth in conference with a 3-7 record, behind Feather River (10-0, 32-1), Lassen (7-3, 17-14), Shasta (6-4, 10-17), and Butte (4-6, 10-18).

They went into the Sophomore Night match believing a victory might get them into the state playoffs, but that was not to be.

"We worked so much on getting consistent," Cadola said. "We tried to focus on taking your moment. Don't rely on the refs, don't rely on the other team making mistakes. It was about executing and working together as a team. The biggest thing was more consistent serve receive and passing."

Only the top two GVC teams made the postseason. Feather River, ranked No. 1 in the state, earned the No. 3 NorCal seed behind San Joaquin Delta (27-1) and Taft (28-2). Lassen was seeded No. 19 in a playoff bracket of 20. The No. 20 seed went to Yuba, which finished second in the Bay Valley Conference with an 8-4 record but was 9-14 overall, including a 0-3 loss to the Eagles in Weed in mid-September.

Two Eagles earned All-Conference this season, and both made it for the second year in a row. Outside hitter Sadie Graviet from Emmett, ID, was again 1st Team All-Conference, and middle blocker Ajhana Tagler from Winslow, AZ, was 2nd Team All-Conference after earning Honorable Mention last year.

Sadie had a team-high 15 kills in the win over Lassen on 27 attacks, and her 281 kills for the season ranked 4th among GVC hitters. She finished her Eagle career with 506 kills.

Ajhana finished 3rd in conference with 21 solo blocks and 4th in conference with 57 total blocks, the same number she had her frosh season. She had 7 kills against Lassen and was 4th on the team with 176 kills for the season.

The eight sophomores who were recognized at the banquet included libero Sarah Speasl from Eugene, OR, setter Maddie Gibson from Hansen, ID, outside hitter Heitiare Moala from Medford, OR, defensive specialist/libero Samantha Oakley from Santa Clarita, setter Zoe Brooks from Kellogg, ID, and outside hitter Rylee Brown from Woodland.

Heitiare had 9 kills on Sophomore Night and was 8th in conference with 223 for the season. Rylee had 11 kills against Lassen and finished 11th in conference with 194.

As a team, the Eagles showed their character by winning their final two matches after a painful 2-3 loss to Butte on their home court a week before the Lassen match. After winning the first two sets against Butte, 25-20 and 25-23, the Eagles held a big lead early in the third but lost their momentum and fell 23-25. They then lost the next two, 16-25 and 11-15.

That stung, but they finished strong. "After the loss to Butte, they went into the Lassen match wanting redemption and wanting to put us in position for the postseason," Cadola said. "Lassen was 2nd in conference and had a high RPI. They wanted it."

Helped by their four freshmen -- setter Mia Hansen, middle blocker Rowyn McDougall, defensive specialist Khloe Smith, and defensive specialist Delaney Rowe – the Eagles ended the season with sweeps over Redwoods and Lassen.

"Through the best and the worst of times they all want to support each other and motivate each other to work. They're a caring bunch," Cadola said of this year's roster. "What a way to close out the season for the sophomores. They made their mark on Siskiyou volleyball."

The coach said Mia would have been a deserving All-Conference pick. She was 2nd in conference with 631 assists, while she and Sarah were both top 10 in the GVC in digs, and Zoe was 11th. Mia ranked 4th in conference and set the single season school record for service aces (56) and is now 2nd on the all-time Eagles' list for assists in a season, just 8 behind the mark of 639 set by Isabella Colombo last year. Samantha's 40 service aces rank 6th all-time in the Siskiyous record book. Also good at the line this season, Ajhana had 33 service aces, Quincy Paarsch had 30 in the 64 sets she played, Delaney 27, and Rylee 26.

Rowyn ranked 6th in conference in blocks, and Heitiare was 9th. Sarah ranked 5th in service receptions, and Samantha was 11th.

Assisted this year by former Eagle Kayana Woodard and team manager Lillian Walker, Cadola said. "This sophomore class is one for the books. They're such an amazing group of leaders. They helped us bounce back and finish the way we did. We achieved a lot this year." See her comments from the Sophomore Night banquet below.

Of the freshmen, Cadola praised Mia Hansen for her passion. "She loves to see hitters getting kills. You always hear her on the floor. We had Bella for two years, and now we're thankful to have Mia. She's a great leader."

Rowan McDougall, playing in the middle, "has been working hard all season on being consistent and had her best game against Redwoods on offense. She's been a huge threat blocking. She's super athletic and can get crazy touches off blocks."

The coach said Khloe Smith and Delaney Rowe both stepped up to help fill the hole left when Quincy Paarsch was no longer available to play. "Khloe was a huge part of our good passing percentage against Lassen and has been digging so much for us. She's been an unstoppable force on defense. She can read hitters and read around blocks. She's grown so much." Delaney "had amazing digs against Lassen."

The Eagles will be counting on this year's freshmen to lead the large incoming class that will be needed next year to replace the eight graduating sophomores.

At the Sophomore Night banquet, Cadola said, "This group has put in the work, the heart, and the hustle to make our volleyball family what it is. Tonight's all about recognizing everything they've given to this program and cheering them on as they take their next big steps."

Following are her comments about each sophomore:

Sarah Speasl: "When I recruited Sarah I called her the silent assassin because she just dug everything, found a way to impact each play, but did it quietly in the back. Throughout her time here she has fully embodied this role.... in more than one way. I have had a blast getting to know Sarah deeper this year, whether it be small inside jokes or helping her with those ah hah moments, I feel honored to be a small part in her volleyball career. She has worked her butt off during her time here, and I am excited to see her next steps. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this team."

Maddie Gibson: "Maddie is one of the most supportive, down-to-earth people I know. She is beyond dedicated to her team and always brings energy and a smile. She has worked crazy hard to be the player she is today; whether it's countless extra setting touches or diving reps after practice, she knows how to work hard and be an asset to this team. You can always count on Maddie to heckle teammates on the service line, find a goofy spirit on the court, or flex on people when she gets a kill or block."

Heitiare Moala: "HT is a nature athlete—flying around for crazy digs, firing off sniper-level serves, and delivering absolute cannon kills. She plays with fire, and her personality matches it. She never tries to be anyone but herself, and when she's in her groove, her energy is infectious. It's been an honor to watch her grow at this sport and I'm excited to see where she ends up."

Samantha Oakley: "Sam has truly blossomed into such a consistent and reliable player. She faced plenty of challenges last season, but she pushed through every single one with grit and determination. Her drive to improve—and her refusal to settle for anything less than her best—sets her apart. This past season, I had the honor of coaching a player I could trust in any position, at any moment. The level of consistency Sam has worked to achieve is remarkable. I'm grateful for her dedication, her resilience, and her constant effort to keep moving forward. I can't wait to see what comes next in her journey."

Zoe Brooks: "The word versatile fits her better than any other. Whether she's passing, hitting, or setting, her consistency makes it nearly impossible to keep her off the court. Honestly, if I asked her to play middle, she'd jump in without hesitation and give it everything she's got. I'm so grateful for the trust Zoe has shown in me and for her willingness to take on any role the team needed. She's been an incredible leader, a steady teammate, and someone I can count on every single day. She's going to excel at anything she sets her mind to, and I can't wait to see what the future brings for her."

Sadie Graviet: "I get them mixed up all the time—and there's a reason I started calling them 'Sodie.' Like Zoe, Sadie has been incredibly versatile for us. She came in as a middle, moved to the right side, and has become our starting outside, leading us in kills for two seasons straight. It has been an absolute honor coaching Sadie. She brings a level of steadiness and calm that grounds our team, and she always gets the job done. I can count on her to lead, to work hard, and to show up every single day. I am beyond proud of her and everything she's accomplished in such a short time, and I have no doubt she'll continue achieving greatness long after her time here."

Rylee Brown: "We call her 'Grandma,' but it's really because of the wisdom and experience she brings to this team. It took so much courage for her to come here and finish her career, and I'm beyond grateful she took a chance on me. She has been steady for us in everything she does. I love seeing her passion after a huge kill, and the energy she brings is truly unmatched. She's been an incredible leader, showing these athletes that you really can write your own story. Thank you for your dedication, your trust in me, and for being unapologetically and authentically yourself."

Ajhana Tagler: "Last but definitely not least—Ajhana! Over these past two seasons, she has been an absolutely unstoppable force for us. She'll deliver the biggest swing or come up with a massive block, and then just turn around with that big grin of hers. She's steady, committed, and consistently true to who she is. She has fought through her own battles, but not once did I ever doubt her dedication to this team or her work ethic. I admire her drive and how hard she pushes herself every day. I know she's patiently counting down to beach season, but beyond that, I can't wait to see what incredible steps she takes next."

Most of the sophomores will be moving on to beach volleyball in the spring, and unlike the past two years, they have their own outdoor courts and won't have to leave home for practices. Cadola said, "We may have to dig some snow off the (new beach volleyball courts), but we're going to be very happy about not having to drive two or two and a half hours for practice. It's going to be amazing to have a home court."

By Steve Gerace