Williamstown High School Girls Volleyball Season Preview

The Williamstown Braves are looking to reload and refocus heading into the 2025 volleyball season after graduating one of the program's most decorated senior classes. Head Coach Chris Sheppard is leaning into leadership development, club training, and continued evaluation to keep the program’s strong tradition alive. Offseason Focus With nine seniors graduating, leadership has become the central theme of the offseason. Coach Sheppard is challenging his returning seven juniors to step into leadership roles—both on the court and in the locker room—to help unify the group and maintain a high level of team morale and chemistry. Special Offseason Events While the team hasn’t locked in specific events yet, many players are actively involved in club volleyball, which provides consistent training and valuable experience. These shared club experiences are helping to build chemistry among core players even outside the school season. Roster News There are no major coaching or roster changes at the moment, but the team is in a transition year following the graduation of six seniors who are now playing college volleyball. The returning group will look to write their chapter this fall. Players to Watch Several key players are making noise already in the offseason: Stella Eberly – Last year’s 2nd Team All-State and 1st Team Group 4 selection is poised to be the Braves' top offensive weapon. Addilynn Belcher – A 3rd Team Group 4 standout, she's expected to dominate along the net. Lora Kunicki – A dynamic libero who split time last year, she’s working hard to regain her top form. Peyton Wright, Bria Kozak, Khloe Lynch, and Gracie Young—all are competing in club programs and have been putting in time in the weight room, showing dedication to strength and conditioning. Weight Room & Fitness Coach Sheppard kicked off weight room workouts a few weeks ago, and player participation has been strong despite spring sports and club schedules. The commitment level has been encouraging, showing signs of a team ready to grind for results. Coaching Strategy As always, the coaching staff remains flexible: “We constantly evaluate what we’ve done in the past and whether it fits our current group of athletes,” says Coach Sheppard. Expect continued tweaks to the system over the summer as the roster and player strengths become clearer. Community Connection The Braves continue to build school and fan engagement through Instagram and Twitter, promoting players and matches throughout the year. During the season, players run the team's Instagram page, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the program and helping grow school spirit. Biggest Challenges Ahead The path forward won’t be easy: Replacing 9 seniors, including 6 college-level athletes Managing internal competition and adversity Competing through a consistently tough schedule But with returning talent, hungry underclassmen, and a focused offseason, Williamstown is preparing to reload—not rebuild.