Sentinels hope to climb up the postseason ladder

BAUMHOLDER, Germany – Summer Mundy anticipated the Spangdahlem girls volleyball team would experience a few growing pains during the 2026 season.

Only three Sentinels returned from last year’s DODEA-Europe Division III runners-up in Mundy, junior Emily Castano and senior Sophia Russell. Numerous underclassmen had little time to pick up the ins and outs of key roles, such as at setter.

Yet, Mundy expressed her surprise at how easily they’ve gelled so far. It showed on the team’s opening weekend.

Following the Sentinels’ 25-13, 25-21, 25-14 sweep of Alconbury on Saturday morning at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, they improved to 2-0 to start the season. Friday evening, Spangdahlem beat the host Buccaneers 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 25-15.

Mundy explained that the players worked on their connections during the first week of practice, and the comfort level built over that time has paid dividends immediately, with the team posting runs of nine and eight points in the first set of the win over the Dragons.

“Most teams I’ve been on, we haven’t had those connections, but I feel like the girls we’re playing with now, we all work together really well and we all have something special,” Mundy said. “I think it really benefits us in the long run.”

That comfort level stretches to the coaching staff, too, Spangdahlem’s Daniel Williams said.

The Dragons roared at the beginning of the second set and led 10-4 when Williams called a timeout. The Sentinel mentor reminded his players about the fundamentals in hopes of getting them out of their stupor.

It worked. Spangdahlem rattled off five straight points and recorded 10 of 13 points to take the lead for good.

It was Spangdahlem’s lone rough patch in Saturday’s contest.

“Even though they’re young and they’re new and they’re just getting to know each other, they trust each other already and they trust us as coaches,” Williams said. “They’re taking feedback, it’s constructive, they’re implementing it and we’re seeing them grow already really in the season.”

One of the biggest areas of concern for the team is the setter position. The Sentinels have turned to sophomore Reagan Manz, who played JV last year, and freshman Abigail Hampton.

Williams praised Manz’s improvement over the offseason, which led to her getting the nod for most of Friday’s match. He turned to Hampton against Alconbury, and she showed herself up to the task with eight assists in the opening two sets.

Mundy said both players have impressed so far, and hitters such as herself (seven kills) and newcomer Aliyah Taylor (five kills) are appreciative of what both setters bring to the table.

“(Manz) likes to accept criticism from us, and I think that helps us as hitters because we feel comfortable talking to her about how we need our sets and how she can do better,” Mundy said.

“Our other setter, Abigail, I think she has a lot of potential. She did really good this game. I’m excited to see her get better this season.”

Spangadhlem's Aliyah Taylor serves during a match against Alconbury on Sept. 12, 2026, at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Skylar Mundy tips the ball over the net during a match against Alconbury on Sept. 12, 2026, at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury libero Mireya Hernandez twists her body to dig a ball during a Sept. 12, 2026, match against Spangdahlem at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury's Lillian Payton bumps the ball during a Sept. 12, 2026, match against Spangdahlem at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Summer Mundy jumps up to spike the ball during a match against Alconbury on Sept. 12, 2026, at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury's Iyawna Jones sets the ball during a match against Spangdahlem on Sept. 12, 2026, at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder’s Brianna Whitmire bumps the ball during a Sept. 12, 2026, match against Alconbury at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder's Danica Ioanis serves during a Sept. 12, 2026, match against Alconbury at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder's Marley Wilson reaches out to try to stop a ball at the net during a Sept. 12, 2026, match against Alconbury at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury's Rachel Hiles bumps the ball during a Sept. 12, 2026, match against Baumholder at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder’s Leaiseaiga Vaisagote blocks an attack by Alconbury’s Harper Bell at the net during a Sept. 12, 2026, match at Bradach Sports Center in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

In the afternoon match, Baumholder bounced back from the previous evening’s defeat with a 25-15, 25-19, 25-19 victory over the Dragons.

The Buccaneers (1-1) trailed just once throughout: at the beginning of the second set, when Alconbury had 9-5 and 10-8 advantages. Following a Leaiseaiga Vaisagote dink to make it 10-10 in the game, Baumholder didn’t trail again.

While saying his team still has plenty of room for improvement, Baumholder coach Nicanor Ylarde said he was pleased with the way his players bounced back from Friday’s loss.

“The energy that they had (Friday) was a little bit scared because of the first game of the season,” Nicanor Ylarde said. “They promised that they were going to get back, and that’s what they did.”

Marley Wilson had five kills to pace the Buccaneers, while Vaisagote gave the Dragons fits with her serving. She posted five aces and 11 service points.

“I think it’s the island power in me,” Vaisagote said, alluding to her Samoan background.

Alconbury coach Cliff Barbee’s crew had its ups and downs.

One of the major highlights came in the second set in the loss to Spangdahlem when sophomore Harper Bell produced three consecutive kills to make it 10-4 for the Dragons.

Fellow sophomore Aurelia Mestler’s ace to make it 9-5 in the second set against Baumholder marked another high point for Alconbury,

Next for the Dragons is putting it together for a whole set and then a match, Barbee said.

“New faces, they’re getting used to each other,” he said. “That’s where we’re going to focus, and we’ll be ready next week.

“We didn’t come in and just get beat. We came in and we played hard. We’re just a few little steps, little tweaks away from it.”

Meanwhile, all three teams expressed their hope to take home the small-schools crown on Oct. 31.

Williams said with all programs undergoing much turnover, the team that puts everything together by season’s end should come out on top. And considering how quickly his Sentinels have come out the gate, he said this could be their year.

“We’ve been knocking at the door six years now,” Williams said. “We’ve been at that No. 2, No. 3 spot. We’re looking to really have all these pieces together like we have and just keep going from there.”