Independence Girls Volleyball team makes a statement

by Noell Wolfgram Evans

After a three-year absence, the Independence High School Varsity Girls Volleyball team returned to the state tournament this season. Unfortunately, they could not overcome a powerful Coldwater squad in the semi-final round and fell three sets to one to the eventual state champs.

“Of course our ultimate goal would have been to win the state championship,” said Head Coach Anthony Messina, “but I think the season went well. Our girls really worked hard and they came together as a team. Part of that was due to a good senior group who provided strong leadership.” Those seniors are Anna Waski, Emily Novak, Sofia Smotek, Alberta Moreal and Ella Sliwinski.

The Blue Devils, who finished the season as the 10th ranked team in Division VI, compiled an impressive 25-4 record. That includes a 12-0 finish in the Chagrin Valley Metro conference. They were dominant on their home court all season long, finishing with a home crowd-powered 14-1 record.

Messina said that part of the team’s success came from their focus, “We never got ahead of ourselves. We just took things one game at a time, one point at a time.”

A deep run into the state tournament is nothing new to the Blue Devils. “We have a history at state,” Messina said. In 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 the team ended the season as state runner-up. Messina said, “This year we lost to a very good [Coldwater] team. I don’t think there was anything we did wrong.”

Messina’s belief in his team was supported by the number, and variety, of post-season awards they collected. Outside hitter Smotek was voted Conference Player of the Year and was named to the All Conference First Team.

District Player of the Year honors went to junior Haley Wilson while Smotek was named to the All-District First Team. Waski was named to the All District Second Team while junior Anna Jirmasek was named to the All District Third Team. Moreal and junior Sophia Pichert were All District Honorable Mention honorees.

Additionally, Moreal and Senior Emily Novak both received Honorable Mentions at the state level. And Waski and Jirmasek were named to the All State Second Team. 

The athletes aren’t just stars on the court, they carry their intensity to their studies as well. “The girls, academic-wise, are very solid,” Messina said.

While still enjoying the success of this season, Messina is already looking ahead. “We have a pretty good core coming back,” he said. “We have a good junior class and our JV team is ready.” 

The team is already scheduled to take part in the Super 20 Tournament at the end of July. This Toledo-based contest features some of the top teams in the state. 

“Nine of the 20 teams in this year’s Super 20 Tournament ended up in the state finals this year,” Messina said. “We like to go to really see what we have. I like to play the best non-conference schedule we can so we have everything worked out when conference games start. This year we went over there [to Toledo] and after three days of play we realized that we had something special with this team.”When asked how next year’s team can build on this squad’s success, Messina said, “I always tell teams that every team, every season is a new start.”



photo caption: The Independence varsity girls volleyball team were the regional champions this year. Photo submitted.