🏐💙 That’s a Wrap: Lady Vikings Close 2026 Season with Growth and a Look Ahead

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Hopewell Junior High volleyball season—and it ended the right way: with both teams finishing strong.

The Lady Vikings 7th and 8th grade teams closed out their seasons on March 26th with a pair of impressive wins in a rematch against Montour—a full-circle moment that perfectly captured the growth of this program from start to finish.

Throughout the season, this group embodied what Hopewell volleyball is all about—resilience and a commitment to improving every single day.

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📝 Student Spotlight: Ariana Fischer Recaps the Final Matches

HSN student writer and 8th grade player Ariana Fischer captured the energy of the season finale in her “That’s a Wrap!” recap:

The 7th grade team battled through a three-set thriller. They edged out Montour in the first set 26-24, dropped the second 20-25, and came back to win a nail-biting final set 15-13. After previously falling to Montour earlier in the season, the victory showed just how much the team had grown—finishing the year by defeating a team that once had their number.

Points were finished with impressive hits and kills by Kendall Miller, Isla Rock, Kaleah Potter, and Vanessa Kurta, while strong all-around play and consistency came from Kendall Bain, Natalie Benninghoff, and Adelynn Gray.

7th Grade Team Recognition (Alphabetical):

• Adelynn Gray
• Callie Sadler
• Eva Hein
• Gia Yurcina
• Isla Rock
• Jayden Kemp
• Kendall Bain
• Kendall Miller
• Kaleah Potter
• Kyla McNutt
• Malena Bonanno
• Natalie Benninghoff
• Rilynn Davis
• Savi Neophytou
• Vanessa Kurta

The 8th grade team continued their momentum coming off a Central Valley Championship weekend, closing out their junior high careers in dominant fashion with a straight-set win: 25-18, 25-22.

The team showcased high-level execution, including strong sets from Brooke Otto and Sam Holsinger, while finishing points with authority through kills by Afton Budris, Alyssa Phillips, Ariana Fischer, Amiyah Shell, Ellie McCoy, and Arionna Shell—a balanced offensive effort reflecting their growth and chemistry as a unit.

8th Grade Team Recognition (Alphabetical):

• Afton Budris
• Alyssa Phillips
• Amiyah Shell
• Arionna Shell
• Ariana Fischer
• Brooke Otto
• Ellie McCoy
• G’lianna Wilcox
• Kelsey Homick
• Leah Buettner
• Lily Cain
• Riley Yanchik
• Sam Holsinger
• Sierra Perry
• Stella Sannan

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📸 Season Memories: Central Valley Spike Fest Championship

The Hopewell Lady Vikings 8th Grade Volleyball team put together a dominant performance at the Central Valley Spike Fest Tournament, capturing the championship in impressive fashion. From the opening serve to the final point, this group set the tone—and never let up.

Hopewell stormed through pool play undefeated, never dropping a single set all day, and earned the top seed heading into the playoffs. That momentum carried straight into the championship, where the Lady Vikings sealed the title with a convincing 25-13 win over Quaker Valley.

Coach Terry Borkovic summed it up:

“Great day! We were undefeated in pool play. We didn’t lose a set all day. Top seed entering the playoffs. Serve receive was exceptional. Arianna Shell, Afton Budris, Ellie McCoy, Alyssa Phillips, and Amiyah Shell were all effective attackers. Lily Cain, Leah Buettner, and Stella Sannan were very good with their defense and serve receive. Brooke Otto and Sam Holsinger had numerous serving runs. Total team effort brought home the first place trophy.”

The Lady Vikings’ serving game applied constant pressure, recording 25 total service attempts with 4 aces, led by Brooke Otto (2 aces) with additional contributions from Alyssa Phillips and Stella Sannan. Long serving runs from Otto and Sam Holsinger helped create separation early and kept Quaker Valley off rhythm.

Across the court, attackers delivered when needed while the defensive unit consistently handled serve receive cleanly—fueling an undefeated run throughout the day. Even the 7th grade squad made a strong showing, advancing to the second round of the playoffs against older competition—a sign of the program’s bright future.

From start to finish, this was a complete, disciplined, and connected team performance, resulting in a well-earned championship trophy and a statement for the season moving forward.

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📣 Coach Terry Borkovic Reflects on the Season

“My main objective throughout the junior high volleyball season is growth and development. We are looking for improvement in each player and development as a team. I believe that this objective was accomplished this season. Volleyball is unique in that the girls start in 7th grade. Improvement each day is vital to success.

The 8th grade team won six of their last eight matches! They got better with each match developing team chemistry. The highlight of the season was winning the Central Valley Spikefest on March 21. The area of greatest improvement was the serve, both in percentage and velocity. Setting was great. Hitters made remarkable progress. Serve receive and defense were areas of strength for this team. I’m looking forward to working with these young ladies in summer workouts. They have the potential to be a very special team in high school.

The 7th grade team continued to improve with each match. They won some matches against some excellent volleyball programs. This team is committed to improving. Many players have signed up for summer camps and will compete in the M7 summer league. The future is bright for Hopewell Volleyball! Our motto is ‘Commitment to Excellence.’”

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✨ Closing Thoughts

The 2026 Hopewell Junior High volleyball season will be remembered as a year of growth, team chemistry, and standout accomplishments. With lessons learned, skills developed, and new confidence gained, both the 7th and 8th grade teams are ready to carry their momentum into the future.

The Lady Vikings have proven that success is not just about the scoreboard—it’s about daily improvement, commitment to excellence, and the support of a strong community.

FINAL POINT OF THE SEASON!

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📣 Looking Ahead: Champions Volleyball Camp

While the season has ended, the future is already in motion.

The Lady Vikings will continue building toward next year at the Hopewell Champions Volleyball Camp, taking place June 15–19 at Hopewell High School.

👉 Click here for full details and registration:

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