“Senior Night” Earns Orangeburg Prep 3-1 Win Over Holly Hill Academy In Volleyball
Orangeburg Prep's 2026 Volleyball Team.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Orangeburg---Senior Night recognition is happening in the sport of volleyball all over South Carolina, near the end of the 2026 regular season, and OrangeburgPrep honored veteran senior players Mary Legare Delaney and Morgan Gue on October, 14, prior to their 3-1 win over Holly Hill Academy 3-1.
Delaney has been on the varsity team at OP since the 9th grade. “My role on the floor is to be a good leader and encourage the other players on the team, especially after mistakes, to stay focused and to keep positive attitudes,” said Delaney, who is also an excellent basketball player. “I play in the middle front and middle back and I enjoy competing.”
Delaney said her proudest moments as a player, over her career, has been helping to get the team in the playoffs every year. “Helping the team make the state tournament and encouraging team unity with everyone are really my proud moments,” said Delaney.
Delaney currently leads the team with 115 kills and 42 blocks. She has an 87.1 serving percentage with 33 aces and 21 digs.
Gue, in her second year on the varsity, plays left-front and left- back on the team and she currently has 99 kills on the team.
“My role on the floor is to keep the team together and encourage the younger players to always do their best,” said Gue. “Right now, my focus is to help the team finish strong and get ready for the state tournament.”
OP is currently 4-2 in the region with three region games left, and head coach Katherine Smith talked with the HSSR after the Holly Hill Academy matches. “My two seniors are a big reason why I am coaching this team and I have known both Mary Legare and Morgan since they were little girls,” said Coach Smith. “Both of them are our true leaders of the team and they lead us on defense, and good leadership, and they do a good job keeping everyone together.
“When Jan (Stoudenmire-AD) asked me if I would coach the varsity this season, I told her it would be an honor,” said Coach Smith, who grew up in Amarillo, Texas where she was an outstanding high school volleyball player. “If we can take care of business against PCA on Monday (Oct. 19) it would put us in second place in the region and that would be huge.
“We have been playing very well the past two games and we have increased energy on the court right now, and this is the time of the season to have that,” said Coach Smith, “This team has shown that it has what it takes to make a good run at the state tournament.”
Orangeburg Prep began the matches against Holly Hill Academy with a 25-20 win in the first match. HHA came back and won the second match 25-21 with the Indians taking the next two matches 25-16 and 25-20.
The other four starters for OP include junior Middle Hitter Harlo Sease who has 86 kills, 52 aces, and 22 digs to date. Soph Blakely Garrick is a Middle hitter with 94 kills, 37 aces, and 32 blocks.
Brynley Bolden is a right-side hitter who has 41 kills and soph setter Marisa Griffith has 146 assists and 25 aces to date. Eighth grader Olivia Williams has also contributed 117 assists and 36 aces this season.
Other members of the OP team include junior Ziva Keyter with 36 blocks, freshman Hanna Bair, and freshman Alyssa Williamson.
OP will close out the regular season on Oct., 19 hosting PCA, before away matches at Wilson Hall (Oct. 20) and Calhoun Academy (Oct. 21) close out the regular season.
The SCISA state tournament will begin in Myrtle Beach on October 23rd.
Holly Hill Academy (13-5) is head coached by Danelle Kern.
The Lady Raiders have been led by 8th grade all-around player Tinsley Kern who currently has 175 kills, 128 digs, 73 aces, and 216 assists.
Other key players for the Raiders are senior MH Essie Wolpert (74 kills and 11 blocks), along with senior OH Klorie Mizell (106 kills, 53 aces, 51 digs), junior MB Lucy Oliver (43 kills, 9 blocks), freshman OH Milly Kate Prescott (49 digs) and soph Ariel Stanley (107 assists, 68 digs, and 58 aces).
Coach Kern, now in her sixth season with the team, told the HSSR after the OP matches, “We are making progress this season for sure and we have only five losses so far,” said Coach Kern. “We are hoping for a strong finish in our region to get ready for the state tournament later this month.
“I wish we had more year-round teams in our area of the state, so our players who do participate in year-round volleyball have. to travel long distances to compete and improve their skills,” said Coach Kern. “Our sport has been growing every year, and I have a lot of fun coaching this team.”
The Raiders will close out the regular season with region matches against Dorchester Academy (Oct. 15) and Andrew Jacklson Academy (Oct. 21).
