'SWAT', it's where it starts for Hillsdale Volleyball, area's fast rising program

JEROMESVILLE — What exactly is happening in Jeromesville? That's a question that has perplexed some and left even more scratching their heads. Hillsdale, a school known for its softball program throughout the state and for its consistency to be among the elite since 1980, has been turning some heads on the volleyball court this fall.

A program that has exactly two league wins since 2013, hasn't won a Wayne County Athletic League title since 2004, has suddenly racked up four league wins since last year. That already matches the total number of wins in a whole decade from 2012 to 2022. The last time the Falcons were dancing with a league title, names like Kim Fulk, Gwen Snyder and Tiffany Uhler dotted the roster.

Now, say hello to Taylor Schmitz, Ally Morgan, Jordyn Fickes, Kiki McFadden and others, who have worked together to turn this program around. Something that isn't lost to Schmitz, a senior, who leads the team with 52 digs through a 4-2 start.

"We started really strong," smiled Shmitz. "We really started how we wanted to start our season."

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That start includes key wins over perennial contender Triway and ever-talented league-rival Norwayne. Two teams, that the Falcons haven't beaten in recent memory or at least dating back to the 2008 era.

"We've already achieved some really big goals that we set for our team," Schmitz added. "Beating Norwayne definitely got us a foot in the door in the league race and we really want to be competitive in it."

So how did this all happen in Jeromesville? It all started with a little chant called swat or as Schmitz defined it, 'selflessly we achieve together.'

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"It's huge," said Hillsdale coach Matti Willeke about those two key wins. "It shapes what we see for our program, shapes what we see for this season and changes the expectations of what we want to achieve now and for the future."

Some of the key players playing big roles in this turnaround are juniors like Morgan, Kennedy Fickes, Macy Mager and Kaylee Wilfong, along with sophomores McFadden, Jordyn Fickes, Jillian Cowger and Joslyn Fickes.

Morgan has run the show and literally does a little of everything with from her setter's position as she continues to grow in her role. She has helped the attack become smooth and effective as McFadden leads all hitters raining down 33 kills and Cowger has slammed home 32. Wiltfong has added 20, Joslyn has 13 and Jordyn has 11.Defensively, everyone works together along with Schmitz as McFadden has 23 digs, Cowger 20, Kennedy 19, Lexi Repp had 15 and Joslyn 14.

"Schmitz has been huge and Morgan is one of the captains with Taylor," said Willeke. "McFadden and Wilfong are doing really well and I could go on and on about each girl on this team."

Willeke then referred back to the team's motto, swat.

"It was really cool to have a good first run and go 3-0 to start the season," she said. "The last couple of games, we've had some growing pains, but hey, we're still learning how to win, how to stay on top, how to close out matches, we're still in that growing phase. We are so excited for what's to come."

That togetherness couldn't have been better expressed than it was by Schmitz as she sat with her teammates in-between games. Her smile, joy and bantering with nearly everyone on the team, just showed again, that just maybe 'swat' is hitting home and becoming a driving force for this team.

"I love it," Schmitz said. "We all love each other, we're all best friends, we click really well, and we know that everyone has each other's backs. Its just a really good feeling to not only be teammates, but to be family."

Going forward in a long season, that chemistry will be key.

For a Falcons team that has high hopes, has an aim to be competitive in the league and knows it only gets tougher, 'swat' is what will keep this team grounded. With teams like Northwestern, Smithville and Waynedale on the horizon, the how-to-win list gets steeper, but if there is anything that this team has already shown, it has the heart, the soul and the grit to battle against any of those teams. They've already achieved so much and now are looking at new goals on that whiteboard. What's a better feeling than checking them off as they've already done with some goals heading into this season?

"It all starts with swat, which is selflessly we achieve together," said Schmitz when asked what this team has to do, to be successful the rest of the way. "We really need to focus on the together and selfless part. When we do that, we definitely can-do great things together."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Schmitz, Morgan, Mcfadden key for Falcons