Cleveland Hill Enters 2026 With Senior Leadership, Offseason Momentum

Overview

• Marie Meyer enters her 11th season as Cleveland Hill's varsity coach after previously coaching six modified seasons in the program.
• Meyer credits vocal senior leadership; the senior group includes Kayla Kirst, Rhianon Gerace, Arianna Furan and Aubrey Timmel.
• Cleveland Hill's schedule includes early September dates with Tapestry, Nichols and Eden before a Sept. 24 matchup with Alden.
• After winter open gyms and summer league work, Meyer believes the team is ready to contend for a division title.

Cleveland Hill Girls Volleyball 2026-27 Preseason Preview

Cleveland Hill enters the 2026 girls volleyball season with experience at the top of the roster and a coach who believes the Eagles have already started building the habits they will need.

Marie Meyer is in her 11th season as Cleveland Hill's varsity coach after coaching modified volleyball for six seasons before that. Meyer played at St. Mary's High School in the early 1990s, where she was part of three state championship teams, and then played two seasons at Nazareth College of Rochester.

This year's CleveHill team is built around a senior group Meyer said brings vocal leadership and experience. The roster's Class of 2027 group includes outside hitters Kayla Kirst and Aubrey Timmel, middle/right-side player Rhianon Gerace and middle Arianna Furan.

Meyer also pointed to younger depth around that group, with the roster including juniors Reagan Vest, Nina Frost, Raelyne Fitch, Emily Jurgielewicz and Kennedy Walenka, plus sophomores Isabella Ciliberto and Anna Furan.

Offseason Work Shapes Outlook

Meyer said the Eagles enter the season with "a sense of purpose and high expectations."

The coach credited a longer build-up for that outlook. Cleveland Hill worked through winter inter-school open gyms with local schools, then carried that work into summer open gyms and a summer league.

"Having put in the hard work before official practices begin, the team feels ready to contend for a division title," Meyer said.

Schedule Landmarks

Cleveland Hill is scheduled to open Sept. 1 at Tapestry before visiting Nichols on Sept. 9 and hosting Eden on Sept. 10. The Eagles' September schedule also includes Holland on Sept. 14, Cheektowaga on Sept. 15, JFK on Sept. 18, Lackawanna on Sept. 21, Sweet Home on Sept. 22 and Alden on Sept. 24.

The October run includes road matches at Eden, Holland, City Honors, Maryvale and Alden, plus home dates with West Seneca West and JFK.

Fans can find livestream information through clevehill.org and YouTube.