Olentangy Orange opened its 2026 girls volleyball season with a 25-12, 25-16, 25-16 home sweep of Newark on Aug. 20.

The Pioneers are replacing four college-bound starters from a squad that went 24-3 and reached the state tournament last season. The non-league rout suggested the rebuild is ahead of schedule.

Senior outside hitter Camryn Coomer led with 10 kills. Junior Brianna Bush added seven and senior middle hitter Kenzie Renshaw had six. Senior Chloe Moore, playing her first match as libero, posted nine digs and four aces. Senior setter Sydney Roberts recorded 29 assists.

Orange lost its top two hitters, Maci Gerboth (Marshall University) and Delaney McAtee (West Virginia Wesleyan), top passer Izzy Scholvin (Texas State University) and top defender Emma Cugino (University of Texas) to graduation.

"We definitely lost a lot of talent … But our mindset is more about grit and the underdog mentality," Coomer told the Delaware Source. "(We're) attacking every game like we're one unit."

Coomer's path to leading the offense was unconventional. She entered the program as a sophomore setter but switched to outside hitter after being blocked from the position by Scholvin. The move came with an Achilles injury she said she still manages. Last season she was fourth on the team with 166 kills and added 253 digs and 69 aces as a full-rotation player.

Moore's transition has been just as winding. A setter by background, she moved to defensive specialist when she arrived at Orange and now steps into the libero role. She had 209 digs and 33 aces last season.

Head coach Katie Duy, in her 12th year leading the program, compared Moore's new role to a quarterback running the defense. Duy said Moore's work ethic made the switch easy and called this year's senior class strong leaders who have been part of two Final Four runs.

Roberts, a transfer from Thomas Worthington, ran the offense against Newark after posting 510 assists, 224 digs and 47 aces at her previous school last season. Bush returns as a key attacker after recording 331 digs, 179 kills and 74 aces in 2025.

Orange enters OCC-Central Division play with three consecutive league titles and a 30-match conference winning streak. League play opens against Hilliard Davidson on Sept. 15.

The Pioneers face Mason and Gates Mills Gilmour Academy on Aug. 28, the first day of the Columbus Invitational Tournament at FieldhouseUSA. The tournament continues Aug. 29.