BARTLESVILLE VOLLEYBALL BRINGS BACK VETERAN STARTERS; SEASON BEGINS AUG. 11
Bartlesville High School’s volleyball coach Andrew Blain coaches last season. He’s entering his second year as the Lady Bruins skipper.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
July 23, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
With Super Nova hitter Emry Brown now channeling her power to the college game, Bartlesville High School’s volleyball program will likely look to put it together by committee this season.
Brown sparkled last season as one of the state’s prodigious prep spikers, helping the Lady Bruins to rise to a 30-9 record.
But Brown is now at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Lady Bruin head coach Andrew Blain is looking to find the right hitting combination to keep the Lady Bruins among the state’s top 10 teams.
Brown wasn’t the only significant contributor to graduate after last season. Some others included middle hitters Rya Christensen and Marissa Demuth, dynamic defensive specialist Mads Hyde and seasoned setter Hayden Brandon.
However, Blain’s cupboard of quality talents is far from empty.
Emma Parsley is back as a starting setter for the fourth-straight season and Sophie Frye has two years under her belt as the libero.
Blain’s roster distribution is unique — nine seniors and 10 juniors.
“I’ve got 20-plus girls who have experience,” he said. “It will be interesting to find the right combo that will make this work.”
One phase he’s sure will work in the defense. In addition to Frye he’s counting on Ava Smith and Rylann O’Bannion to be among the mainstays on the back row.
“I think our defense will be kind of what carries us,” Blain summarized.
Some of the girls in the hitting rotation — either on the edges or in the middle — will include Ellie Benson, Avery Matney and Cera Federico.
Overall, Blain said he faces an unusual coaching scenario — the need to rebuild and yet having a wealth of experience at the same time.
“Of the nine (seniors) I’d say six or seven played quite a bit last year,” he said, adding “I’m excited to see where we’re made of.”
It all starts on August 11 in Enid. The first home match is set for August 12 against Booker T. Washington.
NOTE: Blain is entering his second year as varsity head coach. He is only the team’s third head coach the past 20 or 21 seasons, the other two during that period being Tom Williams and Jennifer Ward. Blain had served on Ward's staff.