Ashley Hall continuing efforts to build solid lacrosse program By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – Lacrosse, as a sport, is growing slowly in popularity around the state of South Carolina. In the Charleston area, growth and interest has increased in recent years with several programs winning state championships.  The growth of lacrosse is not quite as rapid in the SCISA ranks but the program at Ashley Hall is one that continues to improve and compete. Olivia Vanderhoof is in her first season as the coach of the Panthers and has been pleased with the effort and attitude of the team this spring. She sees a nice mix of senior leadership and hungry young players. “We have a lot of passionate seniors who have put in work to have a great last season,” the coach reports. “We have a good group of new players who are eager to learn the game and work hard to build the Ashley Hall program.” The Panthers have experienced some success this spring, posting early wins over Academic Magnet and Trinity Collegiate. They also competed well in a one goal loss to AAAAA public school James Island Charter. In terms of their play on the field, Ashley Hall’s top performers this season include senior Cissy O’Donnell , the team’s leading scorer, and sophomore Kate Murphy , another key scorer and solid on draws. Joining O’Donnell and Murphy at the Attack position are senior Hannah Holcomb and freshman Anna Thome , a player to watch for the future. In the midfield area, the usual starters are seniors Faye Bailey and Campbell Stryker , and sophomore Sally Rowson . Playing as defenders are senior Sims Wadley , sophomore Georgia Newman , sophomore Caroline Copenhaver and senior Garland Mulvey . The starting keeper has been sophomore Rheagan Miller . Ashley Hall will be a part of the SCISA state playoffs but will have to contend with two state powers – Porter-Gaud and Heathwood Hall, who are the favorites. Porter-Gaud has won seven consecutive state championships and won their first 11 matches. Nonetheless, Vanderhoof is excited for her team to learn from the opportunity, especially the underclassmen. And, she expects her seniors to go down with a fight as well. “We expect to have competitive games with the teams left on our schedule and we are excited to see where things shake out for playoffs,” said Vanderhoof of her expectations for the remainder of the season.

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – There’s a lot to be said for team chemistry when it comes to winning on the playing field and the Ashley Hall soccer team seems to have plenty of chemistry this spring. Former assistants Kelly Rogers and Allison Andrews have taken over the direction of the program as co-head coaches. Rogers is in her sixth season as coach while Andrews has five years of experience. They are attacking this season with enthusiasm and like the way the team is working to prepare for the season. “Our focus this year is to get better every day we step out on the field. Whether it's practice or a game, our goal is to find a way to find success -- in every way we can,” Rogers says. “That way, by the time playoffs come around, we are in top shape to compete. “We have a strong core group returning this year with a focus on building up play through the midfield. Our team is tight knit and versatile -- with a lot of athletic players who can help us find success from different areas of the field.” Rogers feels the entire roster is capable of contributing to success. But, every team has a core group of leaders that set the tone for the rest of the team. Rogers feels the 2025 Panthers have solid leadership. “Our leaders come in many forms: some show by doing and some show with mentality,” she explains. “Seniors Kate Farr and Dia Timko are the leaders who embody our team's values -- they show up every day with the mentality that they are going to get better and help the team do so along the way. “ Kate Coker and Gates McCants (both seniors) reliably put the energy in this team. I know when they step on the field they are playing their hearts out and that shows through how they hold themselves. “The core players that we always find ourselves relying on are freshman Lynden Taylor and junior Catherine Clark. When these two girls have the ball, there is a sense of calm with the rest of the team. They will defend until they win the ball and distribute out to their teammates consistently to get us out of trouble.” All of the above mentioned players work in the starting lineup. Other starters include senior Iris Stiegman , sophomore Molly Mettler , senior Caroline Rivers , junior Britton Zollweg , freshmen Bea Anderson and Bryn Wildstein , and sophomore Kamya Howard . Rounding out the roster this spring are Bailey Burke, Emily Kaye, Evie Cowan and Gemma Williams. “ This year our sights are set on a successful season to place into the state tournament,” Rogers says. “With two additional teams in our region, but the same amount of spots available, the competition will be higher but we are ready to hold our ground as one of the top schools in our region.”

PCA head coach Shelly Kaiser with team captains (L) Ava Brown and (R) Cokey Suddeth

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – With the regular season winding down, the fall sports teams and athletes at Ashley Hall are gearing up for the 2024 SCISA postseason. By the first of November, SCISA will have crowned state champions in all of their fall sports, except for football. Thus, the athletes at Ashley Hall are laser focused on being at their best in crunch time. The volleyball program has won 12 state championships and is almost always among the last teams standing in the playoff bracket. While teams like Cardinal Newman and Porter-Gaud are routinely winning the state title in SCISA over the last decade, Ashley Hall continues to be a competitive team. As of Oct. 4, Ashley Hall had posted an overall record of 10-14-2 against a highly competitive non-region schedule that includes many of the state’s top teams. The Panthers split their first six region contests. Again leading the team this fall is returning all-state setter Charlotte Strickland . The junior has nearly 450 assists and 200 digs this season. She now has 2.370 career assists. Sophomore Liza Hood leads the team in kills with 156 while also recording 130 digs. Senior Spencer Edgerton has 130 kills and 17 blocks in the middle while Ellen Lesemann adds 65 kills and 20 blocks.  Among the defensive leaders are Iris Stiegman (240 digs), Parker Gragg (123 digs) and Amelia Finnegan (108 digs). Leading the way this fall on the cross country team is Natalie Bennett . Ireland Evans-Langdale , Eliza Willis , Nyla Jenkins and Lilla Hand also have competed among the top five for most of the fall. Sophia Schauer , Bryn Wildstein and Na’Zyia Jenkins add depth and look to contend for one of the top five positions. The cross country team has run nearly 10 events this fall and competed in the Lowcountry Invitational meet, one of the state’s largest and most competitive regular season meets, on Sept. 30. Bennett was Ashley Hall’s top finisher, running in 62 nd place overall. The tennis team was a state finalist in 2023 and aims for another shot at the title. The tennis playoffs were slated to begin on Oct. 8. Members of the team this fall include seniors Nina Abracos-O’Neel ; juniors Adeline Kreise , Emma Kate Schimming , Madeline Schimming , Kate Strenck , Lily Sloan , Grace Taylor and Emma Tedford ; sophomores Gigi Powell and Lillie Jackson ; freshmen Charlotte Guffey and Bella Gray McCurry ; and eighth-grader Bridgette DeWolf .

Charleston – There has not been a lot of turnover among the Ashley Hall coaching staff over the years but change is going to happen sometimes. For many years, the athletic coaching roster at Ashley Hall was full of names that had been with the school for decades. Things have changed a bit in recent years as coaches have moved into retirement but there remains one constant. Athletic director and volleyball coach Franny Slay is closing on 40 years at the school, and even more than that if you include her time as an athlete. Slay is set to begin her 40th year as the volleyball coach at Ashley Hall in 2024, a tenure that includes 32 years as the athletic director. Slay’s importance to the volleyball program as well as the athletic program cannot be understated. In volleyball, the coach has amassed a career record of 839-350 heading into the 2024 season. That record includes 12 SCISA state championships and 10 state runner-up trophies. She also led the school to four championships (1988. 1989, 1991, 1993) in the Palmetto Athletic Conference prior to the school joining SCISA. But volleyball is far from the only successful sport at Ashley Hall. Under Slay’s guidance, Ashley Hall has won several state titles in cross country, track, and tennis while also competing at a state level in swimming, lacrosse, soccer, golf, sailing, archery and equestrian. Slay recently a few coaching changes for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. While the spring sports coaching roster is still being finalized, Slay has her fall sports coaching staff in place for 2024. Returning as the assistant athletic director is Christian Alcantara, who also coaches the soccer team in the spring. A new coach in golf this fall is Paige Crafton, with Kevin Lyden serving as an assistant. Cassidy Rindge returns for her second season as the swim coach and she is assisted by Missee Fox. Charlotte Hartsock will again lead the tennis program. The Panthers won the state title in 2022 and was the state runner-up last fall. She is assisted by Catherine Owens. Samantha Schuster and Tyler Vasko will coach the junior varsity team. Jeff Ward will head up cross country, assisted by Maret Elgren and Damian Cole. Cyndi Simpson returns as the equestrian coach while Kate O’Donnell and Sarah Schaill run the sailing program. Slay returns as the volleyball head coach and also coaches the junior varsity team. She is assisted by Donya Amer. Lyric Scott coaches the eighth-grade team and Halee Van Poppel works with the seventh-grade team. Sallie Gray Clayton coaches the sixth-grade team and Marc Simpson and Kevin Lyden work with the fifth-graders.