LAKEVILLE - The LaVille High School volleyball team has officially taken flight for the 2026 season. New head coach Jennifer Higley has stepped in to help the Lancers navigate an early-season schedule to find momentum in late August. Higley inherits a team that graduated nine players from a 8-15 team a year ago. Higley succeeds Pat Whiteman-Gring. Some key returning players are Lorelei Carey, Avery Lee, Sarah Tharp, and Lily Voss. Others include Bella Higley, Lily Conner, Emma Filley, Charlee Gonzalez, Sophie Jones, and Colette Morgan. Carey, Lee, and Voss lead those attackers. Lee is also the server returning. Lee and Tharp are the top defenders back. Looking to step in at the net are Jones and Morgan covering the net on defense while also helping in attacking. Carey will step in as a libero and the senior is leading in digs so far this season. LHS opened its season August 15 at the competitive Peru Invitational, meeting Western, Fort Wayne Wayne, North Miami, and Peru. Higley's crew followed the Saturday tournament with a tough Elkhart Christian Academy club in a non-conference match at Dale E. Cox Gymnasium. LaVille then broke into the win column with a 3-0 victory against Argos, followed by wins over Lakeland Christian Academy and South Bend Washington. The team continues a three-match run August 26 at home against South Bend Riley. Stat leaders so far include: *Sarah Tharp and Lily Conner lead the offense with a team-high average in kills per set. *Lorelei Carey leads the defense, averaging 3.4 digs per set with 61 digs. *Avery Lee is the serving threat with 12 aces. * Sophie Jones covers the net as the top blocker with four. Four dates remain on the schedule before the Indiana Northern State Conference opener at John Glenn on September 3. Riley travels to Lakeville on August 26, the Lancers travel to the Westview Invitational August 29, South Central (Union Mills) visits Cox Gym August 31, and LHS takes a short trek to Plymouth September 2. Joining Higley on the coaching staff are Shauna Masuka and Heather Salinas. INSC action picks up in September covering five straight Thursday night's.