Hanahan volleyball program under new leadership

By Rob Gantt

Special to the HSSR

Hanahan – The Hanahan High School girls volleyball program has a winning culture in place as it begins a new era this fall under first-year volleyball coach Jaime Koch, who has moved up from the junior varsity to take over for former coach Sheena Lanham.

First official practices for fall sports teams is July 31, with squads picked in early August. Regular season games begin August 15.

“I am beyond excited,” Koch said. “I have moved up from the little ones at the rec center. I’ve done middle school. I was able to take over JV and to be able to work my way up to varsity is a dream come true. The seniors graduating this year are like my babies."

With seven players moving on after the 2024 season, so much playing time is up for grabs this upcoming fall. The younger players in the pipeline, though, have become accustomed to winning and understand the varsity squad has reached at least the second round of the playoffs three straight seasons.

Koch and company took full advantage of open season during the summer.

“We’re only going to have about four seniors, but these girls are hungry,” Koch said. “They’re fired up. They’re eager. We’re all excited. They’re supportive of each other. Team chemistry is there. They are scrappy. They’re all in.”

Senior middle hitter Olivia-Ryan Brace headlines the group of returning players. She was third on the team in kills last season behind a pair of all-region seniors and second in blocks. More lettermen returning are senior Eva Schutz, senior twins Olivia Brooks and Maggie Brooks and junior setter Juliette Owens. Schutz and both twins are competing for time at outside hitter or right-side hitter for the 2025 season. Schutz was fifth on the team in kills in 2024 and is the lone player coming back who made a somewhat significant contribution in digs and serve receive.

“Good news is we have a great group of players coming up,” Koch said.

Sophomore Cailtyn Manus is going to get a long look at setter, a position where the Lady Hawks also lost everybody. Junior Ella Spagnolia, who got pulled up late last year, is in the conversation for significant playing time at outside hitter. Eighth-grader Makenna Gallus, who was also pulled up near the end in 2024, will be in the mix at middle hitter. On the back row, sophomore Cydnie Murray, sophomore Payton Bellew and junior Rayne Stoll have potential to start, too.