Entering the 2026 high school volleyball season, those attending Macomb High matches will want to make sure to grab a program.
Eight seniors graduated from last year’s 21-15 team, leaving seond year coach Hillary Humes with plenty of questions concerning this year’s squad.
Among the losses were Prairieland South Division All-Conference selections Jordan Hines (first team) and Cadence Hotz (second team).
“We don’t have a lot of experience at the varsity level,” said Humes.
In fact, sophomore Jersee Mills is the lone returning starter for the Bombers.
Mills, a Prairieland South Division First Team selection last year, finished the season with 115 kills that included a .168 hitting percentage.
Mills also recorded a team-leading 45 service aces, 47 total blocks and 213 digs.
“We’re really going to look to her to carry a big load for us again this year, bringing some of that experience. Being out there with the speed, the tempo that varsity takes,” said Humes.
Stepping into outside hitters roles, also playing full rotations are juniors Reva Koeppen and Clairissa Thompson.
While Humes noted that the duo have the hitting down, their work continues on the discipline of defense and passing.
But as she noted, “They want to work hard at it.”
At setter, sophomore Anistyn Lovell takes the reins. Lovell saw limited play last year when Sophie Wilson, who was also a member of the golf team, was away at meets.
“She’s a competitor,” said Humes of Lovell. “She wants to do well and run a fast tempo that’s required at the varsity level.”
“I see her talking to all of her hitters, telling them what plays to run,” she added. “As a setter, she’s the quarterback for the team.”
While Mills is returning, she is transitioning to the right side where Hines played last season.
“If you have a good, strong opposite (hitter), it makes such a world of difference,” said Humes. “Not just hitting, but blocking.”
Humes also stated that Mills has good hands and that she may also do some setting as well in an effort to utilize her skills and varsity experience.
Freshmen Ashtyn Shoopman, and Dehlia Graham will be stepping into middle blocker roles.
“They’ve done so well this summer,” said Humes of the duo. “Going from eighth grade to running no tempo to jumping into varsity and only running tempo, it was a bit of a jump for them at the start of the summer, a bit of a learning curve.”
“But they have just stuck with it,” she added. “And they connect really well with Anistyn. I would expect them to make a big splash as freshmen.”
“I have seen great improvement and they are going to keep improving.”
Megan Redding is the lone returning senior for the squad.
Players for the 2026 Macomb High freshman volleyball team include the following. Front row, Olivia Lytle (left) and Jenna Louden. Back row, left to right, Rylynn Schwerer, Bella Langworthy, Aurora Reynolds, Aleah Milby, Emery Mealiff and Adalyn Tate.
Players for the 2026 Macomb High sophomore volleyball team include the following. Front row, left to right, Olivia Lytle, Presley Montoya, Harper Katz, Jenna Louden and Rylynn Schwerer. Back row, left to right, Bella Langworthy, Aurora Reynolds, Marley Dean, Aleah Milby, Emery Mealiff, Adalyn Tate and Addie Lawrence.
“She has really taken on that leadership role,” said Humes of Redding. “She’s our big talker out on the court. She really leads with her voice and (her teammates) need that to really stay focused and centered.”
Humes noted that Redding has a great serve and is scrappy defensively in the back row.
“I’m looking to find ways to get her out on the court to utilize that vocal leadership that she has.”
With so many new faces, the summer proved to be valuable. The team posted a 17-11-1 record in its various competitions.
“Summer was a big learning opportunity for us,” said Humes.
Despite the roster turnover from last season, Humes expects the team to be ready from the get-go.
“I look to compete early,” she said. “If you take some early losses in the season, you risk maybe hurting the team morale. But if you can lift up from that and realize that you have to get these tough teams and tough games in us so we can know how to recover from losses. It will only help us.”
“Winning’s nice, but what are we learning from that?” added Humes. “If you’re going into the postseason having not faced many challenges, not having faced many losses, then you get into the third set of a match and then you panic a little bit.”
From now until then however, Humes will be aiming to build up stamina and adaptability.
Despite the roster turnover, the goals remain the same for Humes.
“You don’t lower your expectations because you’re a bit younger,” she said. “We still go out to compete. We’re going to take some good wins and we’ll face some losses.”
“My expectations are how do you adapt from that and grow from that,” she added.
With so many underclassmen, the team has a chance to build a solid foundation for the future.
“This team can have a chance to grow together and get such a strong chemistry and a strong unit together,” said Humes. “That could really serve them in the next few years.”
The keys for success also never change.
“We’ve got to scrap,” said Humes. “We have got to keep the ball off the floor and just be that team that is so tough to get the ball to land on that we force other teams into errors.”
Humes noted that she has a strong serving team, one of high risk/high reward that should also pay benefits.
Offensively, it begins with the first pass on serve-receive.
“Your foundation is your passing,” said Humes. “We’ve got to be a ball control team first to get some of our big guns going. We can’t be offensive minded if we don’t have the pass first.”
