NTL VOLLEYBALL: TOWANDA LOOKS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN 2025 (2025-08-20)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
For the first time in her coaching career Towanda’s Cassie Smith has a veteran team coming into the season. Her first two years they had just one senior on the squad, but with them sporting seven this year the Knights hope to finally break through and make districts.

“This crew has been together for several years now, and it’s so great to see them kind of buy into our program, into our traditions, and to see them grow and mature as players and people,” said Smith. “I’m really excited to have them all back together again.”

Their biggest returnee is Brooklyn Evans, who led the team in kills (209), blocks (54), and aces (41) a year ago, to go with 159 digs and 118 points.

“I feel like since we’ve only lost one our team has a pretty strong bond, and I think we’ll come out big this year,” she said.

They return quite a few strong hitters from last year as Brynsen Vargason had 89 kills, and Kayah Johnson added 57.

“I’m going to continue to develop those hitters,” said Smith. “Start to kind of fine tune them a little bit. Early on we we’re really working on a lot of fundamentals, a lot of basics. Coming into this season it’s been so great working with hem because they’ve already got that stuff down, so we can really start to specialize in the hitters, and get them to do different things.”

Stepping into that group is sophomore Kendall Kellogg, whose ready to step into that group.

“I’ve been working on hitting all the spots on the court instead of just trying to get it over the next,” she said. 

And she can’t wait to line-up next to Evans, whose one of the best players in the NTL.

“It’s very exciting to watch her get all these amazing kills and grow as a player,” Kellogg remarked.

The Knights also return their setter from a year ago in Karis Flynn who had a team high 372 assists.

“I’m focusing on my jump sets and stuff like that,” said Flynn. “Getting the ball to my hitters so they can slam it down.”

She enjoys having hitters all over the court to pass to.

“We working on hitting a lot,” remarked Flynn. “We always hit during practices. I love setting up my hitters, obviously, so we can get that good hit.”

Of course, their biggest bugaboo the past couple seasons has been getting the ball to their hitters.

“We’ve been working on passing to that setter so that we can set up those big hitting moments,” remarked Evans.

Smith believes that their experience from the past couple years will help them with the passing this season.

“This group really has grown a lot,” she said. “We’re going to look to be a little bit more scrappy this year, try to get to everything, and not let the easy stuff fall.”

They came up one win short of districts a year ago, and they saw how competitive the Class AA tournament was. The Knights feel if they can get into the tournament they can make a run.

“Hopefully we don’t just make it to districts, but we win it,” remarked Evans.

NTL Large School may be one of the toughest volleyball leagues in the state, so they know they have to bring it every night.

“It’s competitive, but we’re up there with everybody else,” said Flynn. “We’ve just got to keep pushing to the top.”

ROSTER (Roster)
Alyssa Dulaney (12)
Brooklyn Evans (12)
Nozilahon Ismailova (12)
Kaya Johnson (12)
Lilyann Sproule (12)
Marliana Tuttle (12)
Caedence Wells (12)
Kylee Barnes (11)
Hannah Crawford (11)
Karis Flynn (11)
Lariah Long (11)
Layla Longcoy (11)
Alayna Rankin (11)
Brynsen Vargason (11)
Addison Barrett (10)
Paige Buchanan (10
London Decker (10)
Maddie Henry (10)
Ali Hollett (10)
Kendall Kellogg (10)
Sianna Lane (10)
Taylor Nonnenmacher (10)
Lennon Rice (10)
Reese Sullivan (10)
Mia Forant (9)
Samantha Hartigan (9)
Mercede Overpeck (9)
Emma Space (9)
Mackenzie Young (9)

SCHEDULE
Aug. 23 vs Montoursville, 11 a.m.
Aug. 26 at CV, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.
Sep. 2 at Selinsgrove, 6 p.m.
Sep. 4 at Troy, 7 p.m.
Sep. 8 at Williamsport, 7 p.m.
Sep. 9 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Sep. 16 vs Montrose, 6:30 p.m.
Sep. 18 vs Troy, 7 p.m.
Sep. 20 at Tunkhannock Tournament
Sep. 23 vs Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Sep. 25 at Mountain View, 7 p.m.
Sep. 30 vs Athens, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 at vs NPL, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs Canton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Sayre, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 at NPL, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 vs NEB, 7 p.m.



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