RUSTON, La. — Ruston High’s volleyball squad will have a new face on the bench this year as head coach Mandy Cauley has hired Kellie Thompson to the staff.
“I’m so excited to have her this year,” Cauley said. “She is a south Louisiana native who married a Ruston boy. She is a skilled athlete who loves the players and the game, and she will add so much defensive knowledge to our program.”
Thompson is a former Golden Eagle from South Miss where she placed both indoor and beach volleyball.
The Lady Bearcats will open the 2025 regular season with a home match with El Dorado on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.
One of the hardest accomplishments to secure in sports is to leave while at the mountaintop. Following James Wood volleyball’s championship season, that’s exactly what head coach Adrienne Patrick is doing.
In her final season before transitioning to her new role as an assistant principal at Millbrook, Patrick led the Colonels to their fourth straight state championship, while also guiding them to a program-record 30 wins. As a result, she is The Winchester Star Volleyball Coach of the Year for the third time in four years.
Patrick ended her six-year tenure as James Wood’s coach with a 128-19 record, guiding the Colonels through the postseason en route to a fourth consecutive region title and another Class 4 state title.
James Wood bested E.C. Glass 3-0 to take home the Region 4D championship, before later knocking off Loudoun County 3-1 at Virginia State University to win the state championship. The Colonels are the first Frederick County team in any sport to win four straight state titles.
Patrick also coached standout individuals, as senior outside hitters Kennedy Spaid and Brenna Corbin were named to the Class 4 All-State First Team and the Region 4D First Team. They were also named to the All-Northwestern District First Team with teammates Claire Keefer (senior middle hitter) and Kyla Wilhelm (junior outside hitter).
Following her team’s impressive 2025, Patrick reflected on the Colonels’ success.
Q. What qualities made this team special?
Patrick: We had plenty of returning athletes on our roster; Kennedy Spaid, Reese Justice, Kylee Plumb, Kyla Wilhelm, Bella Middleton, Brenna Corbin and Claire Keefer were all returners from last year’s team. I think that anytime you’re able to keep a solid core group of kids together, that can add to and help your success. And then, I’ve been known to always pull up a freshman. This year, we had two freshmen on the team that were impactful. They were able to benefit the team in two different ways: Macie Hewitt in the back row and then Kennedi Bower in the front row.
We also talked plenty of times about when you’re at the top, how there’s going to be a target on you. Everybody wants to be the ‘king of the hill’ so to speak, whatever you want to call it, right? So knowing we had been there before, and we currently had the title, we knew that would be something that we would have to fight for, to keep.
Some differences [from other seasons] is that we definitely ran into more injuries than we ever have before. So much so that we had to start changing when our practice time was to allow all my kids to be able to meet and see and be serviced by the trainer. So that was a little bit different, because you’re then constantly having to pivot and put people into different positions and make it work, which we were able to do.
Q. What individuals impressed you or surprised you the most?
Patrick: Kyla Wilhelm came out of the offseason really swinging hard and really ready to make an impression on the front row. She was on First Team All-District and Second Team All-Region, she was either third or fourth on our team in a lot of stats. I just feel like that is her stepping it up. Most of the time, she’s playing on the right side, but in a couple instances, I did put her in the middle.
Claire Keefer, she also went back and forth, right side and middle. She was on First Team All-District as well, and then she was on Second Team All-Region. That was the first time that she was receiving those accolades and that acknowledgement. So that’s a really big deal.
Bella Middleton almost tripled all of her stats from last year because she was just on the court so much more as a sophomore. So that’s really good when you think about where that’s going to take the program moving forward.
Q. What do you consider the most memorable moments of the season?
Patrick: When we hosted our very first-ever tournament [the Champions Classic] that I worked to create. So hopefully that would continue, because the amount of interest that we got out … all of it was positive. We went on to win straight through the tournament [going 5-0].
Two weeks later, we went to Virginia Beach, and our first match of the day … we were going to play Flint Hill. The last time we went to that tournament, two years ago, we played Flint Hill. It was disastrous, it was a struggle for us. And then, beating them 2-0 and then going on the rest of the day, beating other schools like Bishop McNamara and Kellum … was huge for us. I mentioned those teams because they are two huge powerhouse schools.
And then, to go on and have a pretty successful rest of the season, we ended up 30-2. That was the most-ever wins in a season for our program, because we hadn’t actually had a program play that many matches in a season. And then, there’s a lot of memories; all of the bus rides and the silly celebrations that we have, the little sayings we have. There’s a bunch of different things that all go into the team bonding aspect and the buy-in and why I feel like we’ve been able to do this for four years in a row. We make it an environment where kids want to be and where the athletes want to give everything that they have.
Yasmin Dias Tonon, North Broward Prep. Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Yasmin Dias Tonon, OH, North Broward Prep senior: Recorded 320 kills, 194 digs, 60 aces, 40 blocks and .389 hitting percentage; registered 21 kills in a match; had 18 kills in state championship match; helped lift Eagles to district, regional and state title; Bentley University signee.
Kaylee Foreman, Pine Crest, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Kaylee Foreman, libero, Pine Crest junior: Team captain; recorded 625 service receptions, 393 digs, 115 assists and 43 aces; Palm League All-Tournament Team; NHSCA Academic All-American First Team; Under Armour Next Camp Series Invitee; AVCA Phenom selection; Team Florida 15U member; Yale University commit.
Mia Gold, Pine Crest, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Wednesday November 19, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Mia Gold, OH, Pine Crest senior: Led the Panthers to a district and regional title; team captain; recorded 440 kills, 249 digs, 45 aces; recorded 28 kills and 13 digs in state semifinal; school record holder for kills; England National Team selection; Boston College signee.
Melia Howze, Chaminade-Madonna, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Melia Howze, MB, Chaminade-Madonna freshman: Led Lions to district championship and 2A regional quarterfinal appearance; recorded 308 kills, 80 blocks and .443 hitting percentage; recorded 25 kills to lift team to district title win.
Samantha McMillan, Coral Springs Charter, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Samantha McMillan, OH, Coral Springs Charter senior: Led Panthers to 3A regional quarterfinal appearance; recorded 251 kills, 282 receptions and .335 hitting percentage in just 60 sets played; registered 28 kills in a match; American University signee.
Destiny Wiggins, North Broward Prep, volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Destiny Wiggins, libero, North Broward Prep senior: Recorded 436 digs, 438 service receptions, 91 assists and 36 aces; registered 31 digs in a match; had 22 digs in state championship match; helped lift Eagles to district, regional and state title.
SECOND TEAM
Isabella Collado, setter, Pine Crest eighth-grader
Gabriella Florian, OH, Pine Crest junior
Camryn Kanell, MB, Calvary Christian Academy senior
Emma Luehrs, setter, North Broward Prep eighth-grader
Jayda Palumbo, OH, North Broward Prep junior
Adriana Powers-Hadley, OH, Sagemont junior
HONORABLE MENTION
American Heritage: Lyla Pack
Calvary Christian: Sophia Azevedo, Reese Mittauer, Jada Stephenson
Cardinal Gibbons: Jordan Andrews, Ava Flores, Beatriz Matos
Brian Coughenour, North Broward Prep, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Brian Coughenour, North Broward Prep: The Eagles finished 26-2, earned a district championship and regional title and won the 4A state championship. “I am very proud of this team. They came into the season ready to work hard and with one goal in mind in bringing North Broward Prep their first volleyball state championship. They earned that championship along with a number of individual awards. I held them to a very high standard and they not only met it but exceeded my expectations. I am very excited for the future of this program and blessed to be part of it.”
Fabiana Castro, Archbishop McCarthy, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Wednesday November 19, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Fabiana Castro, setter, Archbishop McCarthy senior: Led Mavericks to district and regional title; team captain; registered 490 assists, 187 digs and 64 aces; recorded 39 assists in state semifinal win; will play volleyball and beach volleyball for Miami-Dade College.
Sydney Guerrier, St. Thomas Aquinas, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Sydney Guerrier, setter/OPP, St. Thomas Aquinas senior: Team co-captain; registered 383 assists, 146 kills, 144 digs and 31 blocks; BCAA All-Star Team MVP; FACA All-Star; AVCA All-Region, All-American Second Team, Best and Brightest Third Team and Honorable Mention selection during career; American University signee.
Sophia Guzman, Cypress Bay, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Sophia Guzman, OH/OPP, Cypress Bay senior: Led the Lightning to district title and Class 7A regional final; recorded 274 kills, 4.0 kills/set and 250 receptions; registered 20 kills in regional semifinal win; selected team captain and team MVP; Southern Connecticut State University signee.
Paige Hill, Western, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Paige Hill, OH, Western senior: Recorded 235 kills, 360 digs, 69 aces and 36 blocks; registered 20 kills in a match; two-year team captain and four-year starter; will play volleyball for Emmanuel University.
Emmi Merhi, St. Thomas Aquinas, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Emmi Merhi, OH, St. Thomas Aquinas senior: Helped lift Raiders to district and regional championship; recorded 248 kills, 250 digs, 437 receptions and 36 aces; registered 14 kills in regional semifinal win; Troy University signee.
SECOND TEAM
Isabella Cabrera, OH, St. Thomas Aquinas sophomore
Lisa Zielinski, St. Thomas Aquinas. Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Lisa Zielinski, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Raiders had a 27-5 record, won a district title, regional championship and finished as the Class 6A state runner-up. “Reaching the championship is never easy, and this team earned every bit of it. After losing six starters last year, I don’t think anyone thought we’d be back. We didn’t walk away with the trophy, but we proved we’re a team that battles. We competed with heart, toughness and the kind of fire that’s hard to teach.”
Robert Perez, Archbishop McCarthy, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Wednesday November 19, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Robert Perez, Archbishop McCarthy: The Mavericks had a 28-4 record and captured the district and regional title. They finished as the Class 5A state runner-up. “We had a goal and we all locked into it. It was one team and one dream. We knew this was the team that can finally take that step. The program was due for a final four for the first time in school history. From day one, the entire roster knew this team was special. Practices were special and we competed versus each other like there was another team on the other side of the net. This roster made each other better because how deep and talented we are. The ladies in teal are for real.”
Ava Castro, Cardinal Newman, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Ava Castro, OH, Cardinal Newman senior: Led the Crusaders to a 3A regional quarterfinal appearance; recorded 328 kills, 207 digs, 38 blocks, 26 aces and .374 hitting percentage; registered 26 kills in a match; holds the school record for kills; Boston College signee.
Emmie Hill, Benjamin, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Emmie Hill, MB, Benjamin sophomore: Led the Bucs to a 2A regional quarterfinal win; recorded 210 kills, 63 blocks and .351 hitting percentage; registered 20 kills in a match; USA Volleyball National Team Development Program selection.
Mikayla Matuszko, King’s Academy, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Mikayla Matuszko, OH, King’s Academy freshman: Led the Lions to a district title and 3A regional semifinal appearance; recorded 314 kills, 173 digs and 61 aces; registered 22 kills in a match; USA Volleyball U17 National Team selection.
Riley McCaughey, Benjamin, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Riley McCaughey, setter, Benjamin senior: Led the Bucs to a district championship and 2A regional quarterfinal win; recorded 600 assists, 187 digs, 97 kills and 63 aces; registered 55 assists in a match; 3,064 career assists; University of South Florida signee.
Luiza Queiroz, Saint Andrews School, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Luiza Queiroz, OH, St. Andrew’s seventh grader: Led the Scots to a 3A regional semifinal appearance; recorded 420 kills, 187 digs and 69 aces; registered 41 kills in a match.
SECOND TEAM
Dayana Acevedo, setter, Cardinal Newman senior
Lyla Buser, OPP, Cardinal Newman senior
Caitlin Crino, setter, Boca Raton Christian junior
Miranda Knoll, OH, King’s Academy junior
Taylor Walsh, setter, St. Andrew’s sophomore
Caroline Wright, OH, Boca Raton Christian sophomore
HONORABLE MENTION
American Heritage-Delray: Dagan Rothbaun, Daniela Staton
Atlantic Christian: Anayah Enamorado
Benjamin: Mackenzie Bryan, Londyn Clark, Emma Markin
Lake Worth Christian: Cassidy Childers, Savannah Monier, Ella Vandenberg
Oxbridge Academy: Jessica Jerabek, Olivija Kozul
St. Andrew’s: Ashlyn Cobb
St. John Paul II: Meallen Gunther, Emily Rodriguez, Lyla Tomko
Suncoast: Bella Zingaro
COACH OF THE YEAR
Len Visser, Boca Raton Christian, Volleyball. All County—Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Len Visser, Boca Raton Christian: The Blazers won a district title, regional championship and captured their first girls volleyball state championship in school history. They won seven straight matches to close the season. “I am proud that every girl was part of winning states. It’s special because the girls persevered through some very close losses. “We played like a team and I had total confidence in them. They all trusted each other. It’s truly one of my closest teams and they lifted each other up.”
