After dominant two-year run, Polk volleyball reloading but not lowering standard

Columbus — (WLOS) Winning one state title is an impressive feat. Doing it twice? Tough. Polk County did it, however, but the thing about high school sports is eventually players graduate and you have to find replacements. Head coach Molly Hill lost her top five statistical contributors to graduation, including state finals MVPs Sophia Overholt and Morgan Yoder.

“This process is kind of fun, getting to start fresh and have these really big shoes to fill,” Hill smiled.

Some of the shoes have already been sized. Senior Akeela Cunningham stepped in when Overholt suffered a season-ending injury last year and the transition was seamless.

“She really came in and helped run the show for us,” praised Hill. “Everybody is leaning on her. She jumps out of the gym; I mean, she’s getting like elbows over the net which is exciting because she’s not super-tall.”

Charley Dusenbury was also in the regular rotation and was right behind the stellar seniors of 2025 in almost every category. Hill shared that she’s going to have to ask her setter to also play some in the hitter roles.

“Charley has been with us and playing on the floor for years now. There’s a lot of pressure on her,” Hill admitted. “I think a lot of the team looks to her for guidance. She’s kind of in a new role where before she would just set, but this year I need her as a hitter.”

Watching practice, the physical talent is there. The spikes are still hurtling towards the floor at alarming speeds, the digs are just as impressive, and the Wolverines look the part. The issues popped up in communication, especially on the second hits. But that is a correctable issue, especially for a team that had limited time together before jumping into the scrimmage circuit.

“I think that takes a minute to develop,” Hill explained. “We talk about setter-hitter connection and that kind of thing early on. They all play club, but they play club for different places.”

They may play their travel ball in different places, but now the Wolverines are back in the same uniforms, on the same team, and carrying the same high standard left behind by the departed graduating class.

“There’s just that pressure on them. It’s your turn, it’s your chance,” Hill stated. “How are you going to take that pressure and put it to work and put it into action? So that’s really exciting to see. I mean they’re hungry for it. They are excited and wanting to be here.”

Polk opens the season on Tuesday against former conference foe R-S Central.