Historic Run
Lori Pax, varsity head coach of the Plainfield High School volleyball team, says last year the young athletes made history.
The 2025–26 team won sectionals for the first time in more than two decades. They went on to win regionals and then semi-state.
They also won the Mid-State Conference title and the Hendricks County Showdown against Avon. For the first time in PHS history, the team competed at the state level, facing Carroll High School.
Though they did not bring home a state championship this time, the development and formation of the team is just getting started.
A mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors created the perfect combination.
“We had five seniors, and I think their chemistry and camaraderie really compelled this team, but we were also fairly young compared to our competition,” Pax says. “A lot of them play club, so this is a year-round sport for them. Several play multiple sports, and I applaud that because it’s important to take breaks, but you also can’t take six months off and come back ready to go.”
Sophomores Audrey Utterback and Charlee Groninger stood out during the season.
“Audrey hit 1,000 kills at the state tournament. She earned All-State, which is the first time a sophomore at PHS has done that,” Pax says. “She was an ultra-competitor and was willing to work hard and put in the effort in the weight room.”
According to Pax, Groninger was also instrumental, running the offense as a setter.
“They both have been playing volleyball since they could walk and have been playing together the whole time,” Pax says.
Juniors Marley VanWanzeele and Savannah Brock brought years of skill to the team, while senior Taylor Donovan, Pax says, was a staple, providing continuity and consistency.
Volleyball is a game of communication, teamwork and the ability to read fellow players on the court.
Kenzi Arnett, Kinsey Tripop, Gracyn Groninger, Eliana Tucker, Marlie Eickhoff, Macyn Jones, Evie Ellie, Hailey Abaka, Harper Gentry and Neela Nattam completed the varsity roster.
The junior varsity team included Lucy Hummel, Harper Gentry, Hailey Abaka, Charli Cole, Ella Hannah, Alex Hardin, Emily Epling, Grace Trucker, Kasten Willett, Annabelle Rice, Neela Nattam, Kadence Wyman, Baylynn Edwards and Charli French.
“It was all about chemistry for us,” Pax says. “We had two new players move in, and they were huge assets. We had to figure out where everybody fit and how to make it successful. That was a challenge early on, but we found our stride. It’s complementary volleyball. If passing breaks down, then setting breaks down. We have to control the ball and complement each other.”
Their win against New Castle early in the season marked a turning point.
“I think that’s when they finally started believing,” Pax says. “They had a bit of a challenge believing in themselves the way we believed in them, and that’s when they began gaining confidence as a team.”
As the season progressed, the focus remained on daily tasks, even as each game carried increasing weight.
“In each game, we watched them come together more and realize they could do this,” Pax says. “We came together as a whole family, and I felt like they just got tighter as the season went on.”
Looking ahead, the 2026–27 season appears just as promising.
“One of the things I’ve been telling our athletes is that at Plainfield, we’re not rebuilding, we’re reloading,” Pax says. “We have several incoming freshmen who look promising, strong players on the JV team, and we’ll have to fill some spots. I believe we’ll be even better this year than we were last year, and a lot of that is thanks to the seniors for building such a strong foundation.”
There is still room for growth. Pax says last year’s team was relatively quiet, an uncommon trait for a high-ranked volleyball program, but one she hopes will continue to improve.
“Trying to get them to communicate at the level we wanted was a big challenge,” Pax says. “You have to talk to each other, and as coaches, we worked to find ways to bring that communication up a level. But one thing about this team is they were resilient enough to figure it out when they needed to. They continued to push themselves.”
The coaching staff — Pax, Tiffany Koors, Trey Wolverton, Moses Cung Lian Bik and James Dickerson — also played a key role, along with strong support from parents and the school community.
“We had big send-offs, and our parents were phenomenal,” Pax says. “The excitement was really cool to watch. There were moments of fatigue, of course, but the support helped keep us going.”
Callouts for the 2026–27 team for incoming eighth graders and returning players will take place in March. In April, practices will begin under IHSAA guidelines, typically twice per week.
Official practices start in June, and once school begins in late July, the team ramps up quickly.
“Once the season starts, it can be a five- or six-day grind,” Pax says. “Last year, during the first week, we played four games and a tournament.”
The coaches and athletes are ready.
“We’re fortunate,” Pax says. “The coaching staff gels really well together, and we have a great group of athletes across all our volleyball teams. Communication and chemistry build championships. You have to have that to be successful.”
