Reigning titleists have varied roads to repeat on court

Heading into the 2026 DODEA European girls volleyball season, just one dynasty of the 2020s remains: Ansbach.

The Cougars have dominated Division III the last four years with four straight championships.

Yet their reign is coming under threat. They will face a tough task to extend that with major roster turnover, including the graduation of DODEA-Europe’s 2025-2026 Athlete of Year in Kennedy Lange – a mainstay of the four title-winning teams.

If any small schools need any inspiration, they can turn to Ramstein, which ended Wiesbaden’s three-year stranglehold on Division I last year. The Royals are looking to repeat this year after bringing back numerous key pieces from that squad.

And Black Forest Academy finally got over the hump last fall in Division II after two years of finishing runner-up. The Falcons have a stacked roster once again and should be among the favorites to go back to back.

Whether old dynasties end or new ones begin, all will be known when the volleyball championships are held Oct. 30-31 at their respective sites – the Kaiserslautern Military Community for Division I, Vicenza for Division II and Spangdahlem for Division III.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown based off coaches’ responses:

Division I

Kaiserslautern

The Raiders still have sour tastes in their mouths after the way last season ended, missing out on European competition via a tough sectional tournament at Vilseck.

New head coach Ashley Riker, who spent the last four seasons as an assistant in Kaiserslautern, is ready to see how the motivation translates to the court.

She’s implementing changes in rotations and positions in hopes to bring out the best in her squad.

Riker can bank on the experience of seniors Roslyn Read (right-side/outside hitter) and Gracie Sanders (middle) and juniors Za’riyah Croom (right-side), Syhe Stefanik (outside hitter), Marlee Storch and Bella Flowers (setters).

Newcomers are seniors Jaiyana Jacobs (outside hitter) and Jaryzahbella Dumlao (defensive specialist), junior Nalah Pene (libero) and Natasha Rivera (defensive specialist), sophomore Sophie Kelly (middle) and freshman Ivy Flanagan (middle).

Lakenheath

Coach Katie Hicks sees a lot of potential in the Lancers this fall, with a mix of veterans and some transfers.

The veterans include seniors Natalie Cook-Munoz (libero/defensive specialist), Haedyn Hicks (setter/opposite hitter) and Kaleigh Nix (defensive specialist); junior Miguelle Lamigo (outside hitter); and sophomore Alexis Buchanan (middle), Natalia Ramos-Colon (setter) and Aminah Nix (opposite hitter).

New players expected to make an impact are senior transfer Molly Pheabus at outside hitter, sophomore transfer Kylie Davila at libero and defensive specialist and sophomore Paityn Welssinger in the middle.

Ramstein

The Royals ended their trophy drought last November by winning their first European championship since 2018.

And they are ready to run it back this campaign.

Five starters return. It starts with senior captain Ella Yost. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter paced the squad last year with 178 kills over 15 matches, and she already has committed to collegiate volleyball at John Carroll University near Cleveland, Ohio.

Her co-captain, Noelle Murphy, brings stability to the backline. The junior libero totaled 229 digs and 49 in 2025.

Standing at 6-2, junior Aurora Lewis has the height to be a problem in the middle. Setter Emalie Edwards is building off her stellar freshman campaign in which she directed the offense for 295 assists.

Senior Kaiya Hardy rounds out the returners as a defensive specialist.

Former JV captain Kasia Gromadski is jumping up to the varsity squad, where she’s likely to line up at either hitter position and defensive specialist.

Senior outside hitter Devinity Taylor transferred to Ramstein. So, too, did 5-8 sophomore hitter Ellie Helphinstine, who played for Osan in South Korea.

Freshman middle hitter Ainya Diggins also will make an impact for Ramstein.

SHAPE

Fourth-year coach Kate Maxson said the Spartans should surprise their competitors this season with an experienced squad.

Veterans lead the way with seniors Dimitra Karpontini (libero), Oline Klem (middle blocker), Alex Petreaca (outside hitter/setter) and Emma Richards (right-side hitter/middle blocker); juniors Berta Fernandez Pujalte (defensive specialist/setter) and Doga Mert (setter); and sophomore Valeria Metodieva (outside hitter).

SHAPE picked up a transfer from Brussels, senior middle blocker Sonia Desir. Another senior joining the roster is defensive specialist Stella Green.

Junior outside hitter Cailyn Hall, sophomore right-side hitter/middle blocker Lara Moro Lopez and freshman Emma Booher (setter/defensive specialist) bring freshness to the program, Maxson said.

Vilseck

The Falcons lost a pair of heavy hitters to graduation and PCS, but with eight varsity players back from a team that placed third in 2025, coach Brian Swenty expressed his belief that 2026 will be another strong season.

Returning are seniors Marcia Molock (outside hitter), Mayela Lokeni (middle), Mila Mitchell (libero) and Katelynn McMillan (middle/right-side hitter); juniors Taila Neal (setter), Adurey Bird (middle/outside hitter) and Keilani Notkin (outside hitter); and sophomore Reilly Switala (defensive specialist).

Junior hitter Makenzie Clark transferred an hour north from Hohenfels to Vilseck. Fellow junior, defensive specialist Isabella Maldonado, also moved to Bavaria from stateside.

Juniors Jacey Hwang (setter) and Dalilah Lambarena (libero/defensive specialist) will leap from the JV squad to varsity this fall.

Division II

American Overseas School of Rome

The Falcons will look similar to the team that finished third in the mid-size school tier last November in Vicenza.

The major difference is they are more experienced, coach Claudio Olivieri said.

Senior Gloria Olivieri has made the all-tournament team all three years of her high school career so far.

Senior opposite hitter Elisa Gaeta averaged eight kills per game in 2025, while junior hitter Carolina Santos had six kills a match herself.

Seniors Rhyanna Rispoli (libero) and Arianna Reale (middle blocker), juniors Isabella Santos (setter) and Hailey Carballo (libero), and sophomore Eva Olivieri (hitter) round out the team’s veterans.

Junior middle blocker Jyoti Seshadri, junior opposite hitter Ester Dodzo and junior middle blocker Sara Petulla all transferred in.

Sara Moretti and Irina Bukingolta are going from JV to varsity, and Sofia Neroni will be the lone freshman on the Falcons’ roster.

Aviano

The Saints have a new sheriff in town in Gina Fussinger.

The head coach comes to northeastern Italy after a couple years at Kadena on Okinawa, where Fussinger mentored the Panthers to a runner-up finish in 2025.

The new coach said she’s excited about the potential of the team and Aviano should be competitive in D-II this fall.

Six Saints are back, including three seniors: Koda Roush, Briley Trimble and Riana Pontemayor. Roush and junior Lana Seale are the team’s co-captains, while sophomores Delaney Garcia and Luna Arce-Weiser round out the team’s veterans.

Seniors Mary Barthold and McKenna Baldwin, sophomore Charlotte Fussinger and freshmen Edith Trimble, Serenity Lucas and Oliva Degenhardt are the newcomers.

BFA

Third time was the charm for the Falcons, as after consecutive silver medals, they claimed the 2025 title. They did so with Stars and Stripes 2025 girls volleyball Athlete of the Year Priscilla Sivonen injured for much of the final victory over Rota.

Not that BFA will rest on its laurels, said 10-year coach Kim McKell.

Sivonen, the tournament MVP, is back and healthy, and she will be leading the way again.

Outside hitter Sierra Tweedy and libero Esther Lee also are coming off huge season. Seniors Lydia Moore and Nya Wiens and a pair of juniors add to the list of veteran upperclassmen.

Junior newcomer Olivia Custer is expected to play a role for the Falcons.

Naples

The Wildcats will depend on a large veteran presence that could drive them to more success in 2026.

Back are setters Claire Olsen and Ainsley Bardoni, outside hitter Guliyana Pablo, middle blockers Addison Klawonn and Mia Randazzo, defensive specialist Sophie Garcia and defensive specialist/outside hitter Isabella Vitrello.

Defensive specialist/libero Melodee Hodosky, setter/libero Kate Garcia, defensive specialist/outside hitter Lana Tutak and middle blocker Assia Valley are new to the squad.

Vicenza

The Cougars had the second-best record in D-II during the 2025 regular season, but they missed out on a chance to compete for a European title after losing a three-way tie with Aviano and BFA at the sectional tournament.

A few of the girls from that squad are back this year, and longtime coach John Kohut said this Vicenza team could do well – if they gel together. He also said the Cougars must be versatile.

The key veterans are opposite hitter Alessandra Macy, outside hitter/setter Emily Bell, outside hitter Natalia Lopez, middle blocker/setter Isabell Green and libero/defensive specialist/setter Audrey Martin.

Two transfers will have an instant impact: outside hitter Aniaya Slocum from Vilseck and Miosotis Castro from South Korea.

Division III

Alconbury

The Dragons took fourth place in the small-schools tier.

Coach Cliff Barbee has good reason to believe Alconbury will carry over to this fall.

Senior Maya Machawati and sophomore setter Harper Bell are the team’s captains. Seniors Lillian Payton and Carmelina Hernandez (libero) and sophomores Aurelia Cooper-Mestler, Rachel Hiles, Iyawna Jones (setter) and Lyla Adams also return.

Junior Anabella Matlock and freshmen Nameerah Brady, Brooke Flynn, Sophia Jorge, Charlotte Lorton, Ava Moss and Francesca Nataro are the Dragons’ rookies this campaign.

AFNORTH

Second-year coach Julie Hill said the Lions hope that a group of returners and new talent growing together will lead to a solid season.

The veterans expected to provide leadership are senior left-side hitter Jade Fullwood, senior libero Lea Sheink, setter/right-side hitter Grete Klessman, sophomore middle Ellie McPhee and middle Adelaide Cazzani.

Senior setter Gulce Ozmen, junior setter Olivia Shattuck, sophomore left-side hitter Hailey St. Germain, sophomore libero Buse Gursoy, sophomore middle Brynlee Shorr, freshman left-side hitter Sara Swift and freshman right-side/middle Daphne Hebert are new to the Lions.

Ansbach

The Cougars’ success over the past four years has been well documented. And it wasn’t limited to just league competition, as Ansbach pushed BFA to five sets during the regular season.

But the program enters a new chapter, and coach Christa Becherer’s club faces a youth movement as Ansbach “strives for five.”

Only two starters are back: junior middle Aubrey Chaffey and junior defensive specialist Payton Morris. Chaffey had 27 kills and 18 aces during the regular season, while Morris had 15 digs in the back row. Becherer mentioned Morris has improved her serving over the summer.

Outside hitter Oliolisaga Cormier and defensive specialist Zoey Stubbs round out the veterans.

A pair of JV players will jump to varsity. Middle Savannah Lindquist played the last two years JV, and outside hitter Ailee Sinclair was a member of the same team last year.

Five freshmen – setters Ella Peavler and Mckayla Brown, opposite hitters Maycie Catlin and Mia Edminsten and outside hitter Corinne Bulinski – are expected to have expanded roles for Ansbach. The quintet has impressed Becherer so far and should have an impact this fall.

Baumholder

Coach Nicanor Ylarde said the Buccaneers are hopeful about what could be a special season.

He described Baumholder’s camaraderie and belief as high, which could lead to success on the courts.

Middle/setter Leaiseaiga Vaisagote, outside hitter Marley Wilson and right-side hitter Brianna Whitmire are the players to watch, according to their coach. Other returners setter Eva Barrios and right-side hitter Louisa Washington.

Newcomer Julissa Patino will be big for the Buccaneers.

Brussels

The Brigands are in rebuild mode after losing two-thirds of their 2025 starting lineup.

Seniors Taegan Muller (setter/middle blocker), Sophia Emerson (opposite hitter) and Grace Swan (middle blocker); junior Jayda Diaz-Figueroa (libero), Ana Postic (opposite hitter) and Fiona Gibbons (setter); and sophomores Alice Gencheva (defensive specialist) and Cat Laurenzi (middle blocker) are back.

Coach Courtney Slack praised the freshman class, as many players show promise. Those freshmen are outside hitters Ashlynn Smith and Aubrey Paugam, defensive specialist Sofiya Ferry and middle blocker Mariana Begadze.

Hohenfels

The Tigers are ready to put their struggles behind them as a skilled group enters the 2026 season.

Coach Traci Lewis has three varsity veterans back this fall in senior T.T. Carter, Cora Kline and Natalia Hefflefinger. Making the leap from JV to varsity are Lilian Parkin, Alexis Meyers, MiKayla Enciso and Aeryca Dipraseuth.

New players to Hohenfels include Joslyn Parkin, Addison Myers, MaKayla Dinges, Amiya Moton and Paige Swanson.