North Myrtle Beach volleyball eyes state championship | News

North Myrtle Beach volleyball is in the perfect position with the 2025 season about to open — defending state champions and star players returning.

Optimism is running high.

“We’re always excited to start a new season,” said second-year Head Coach Jenn Loeswick. “Obviously, we’re coming off a great win at the end of the season. We always have high expectations for the team. But we sort of have to see what we’re going to look like and what this team is going to do.

“It’s a new year and a new team. We’re going to try to be the best that this team can be.”

The Chiefs won the 2024 Class 5A-Division II state championship and were 30-9 in large part because of their firepower at the net.

To that end, outside hitters Clara Cloninger and Lilly Loeswick return to lead the charge. Cloninger, a 5-foot-11-inch senior outside hitter, had a team-best 404 kills while Loeswick, a 5-foot-10-inch junior outside hitter, pounded in 326 kills. Both are superb defenders, too, with each getting over 300 digs.

“They are our two big returners who will hopefully be able to take care of some offense for us,” coach Loeswick said. “We’re looking forward to Madison Johnson really increasing her load and taking on a little bit more this year.”

Johnson, a 5-foot-11-inch junior, had 74 kills last season. Raphaella Nunes, a 5-foot-9-inch senior middle blocker, is expected to play a larger role as well. Nunes had 55 kills in 2024.

Directing the team once again is senior libero Kaitlyn Powers. 

“We are definitely going to look for her to keep us nice and stable in passing and defense,” Loeswick said.

Each year means turnover and the Chiefs are no different in that respect. They lost two key players to graduation — outside hitter Olivia Borgmann and setter Bella Loeswick. Borgmann, who is now plays volleyball at the University of Georgia, missed much of the regular season last year due to injury but came back and had a strong playoff run.