2026 WHS Volleyball team.

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It’s been a while since the expectations have been this high for a Wellington varsity volleyball team.

Kaylie Lagasse

Second-year head coach Kaylie Lagasse made this bold statement:

“We will be competing for a league title. We have all the right pieces to do so. We’re not just competing for a league title either – we want to go to the state tournament and compete and advance to Day two.”

Lagasse has a legitimate reason for saying this. The Crusaders are returning five of their starters and six lettermen from a year ago.

It was quite a ride for Wellington in 2025. The Crusaders tied their all-time school win record in volleyball with a 22-12 record. They reached the sub-state championship game, where they played perennial powerhouse McPherson for a chance to advance to state. In a rocking Canton-Galva gymnasium, McPherson won both sets to secure the title. McPherson would go on to the Class 4A state tournament, going 1-2 in bracket play.

To win the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV will be quite the undertaking. That would mean getting past Andale, the defending Class 4A state champions.

Clearwater is also a powerhouse in volleyball. The league is splintered with tough competition, including Collegiate, Rose Hill and El Dorado.

Wellington girls celebrating a huge point vs. McPherson in October of 2025.

But Wellington has a tough lineup. including two of the best outside hitters in the league in Vivienne Wright and Dru Zeka. Kierstyn Gregory will be the setter. Blyss Johnson will be the libero. Addy Wilson is the middle hitter.

“We’re very versatile as we have quite a few players who can compete in different positions,” Lagasse said. “With a year under our belts, it’s been a huge difference maker for us. Our girls are now familiar with how practice works, with drills and how to compete. Now, they have had our system in place for a year.”

Wellington has been playing summer ball and has been doing plenty of weight lifting.

“While we graduated five seniors – I’ve seen massive improvements in the gym, indicating that we’re going to pick right where we left off,” Lagasse said. “Our girls work really hard, and I’m seeing a lot of dedication in the weight room. That will pay off big time this fall.”

Wellington opened with a jamboree in Halstead on Tuesday. It will then open for real next Tuesday for a triangular that includes El Dorado and Clearwater in Wellington. The Crusaders have three triangulars, including one next week and then on Sept. 29.

The Crusaders will be in four tournaments, including Valley Center, Chaparral, Cheney, and Clearwater. The season goes quickly, with sub-state occurring on Oct. 22. The State tournament will be held on Oct. 29-31 at Hutchinson Community College. Wellington hopes to be there.

The full Wellington schedule:

The Wellington Varsity Roster