Olentangy Orange girls volleyball lost four starters to college programs but enters the 2026 season chasing something the program has never captured: a state championship.

The Pioneers reached the OHSAA Division I state semifinal on Nov. 8, 2025, falling to Mentor 25-17, 18-25, 25-23, 25-17 at Vandalia Butler High School. That capped a 24-3 season and marked the program's second state tournament appearance. Orange also reached the Division I state final in 2023.

Over the past three seasons, the Pioneers have gone a combined 71-12, according to Press Pros Magazine.

The 2026 roster looks different. Top hitters Maci Gerboth (Marshall University) and Delaney McAtee (West Virginia Wesleyan), top passer Izzy Scholvin (Texas State) and libero Emma Cugino (University of Texas) all graduated. Cugino was a 2025 AVCA First Team All-American.

Coach Katie Duy, in her 12th year leading the program, told the Delaware Source in late August that the returning players are stepping up. She credited the seniors who played in back-to-back state tournaments and said the younger players are buying in.

Senior outside hitter Camryn Coomer led the team with 10 kills in a season-opening sweep of Newark on Aug. 20. She told the Delaware Source in late August that the team has embraced an underdog mentality after losing so much talent, saying the Pioneers are attacking every game as one unit.

Coomer is joined by senior middle hitter Kenzie Renshaw, senior setter Sydney Roberts, Chloe Moore (who moved to libero for 2026) and junior outside hitter Brianna Bush. Bush added seven kills in the Newark win, and Renshaw had six.

Orange entered the season holding three consecutive OCC-Central Division titles and a 30-match conference winning streak.

Younger players are buying into the program's identity. Junior Brecken Allenbach told the Olentangy Orange student newspaper that the team has zeroed in on serve receive and communication during practice.

"If you can't serve, it can either win or lose you a game," Allenbach said.

Sophomore Lexie Siyak said practices have been competitive, with heavy emphasis on defensive and offensive drills. The team also runs weekly challenges that pair players with teammates they don't normally play alongside, building chemistry across the roster.

Orange opened OCC-Central Division play against Hilliard Davidson on Sept. 15. The Pioneers visit rival Olentangy Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 29, the next rivalry date on the schedule.