Skip to content
Western New York  ·  High school sports
Search ⌘K

Ellicottville leans on proven production entering 2026 girls volleyball season

Riley Whitmer and Karle Northrup give Ellicottville an experienced core as a larger junior class moves into the 2026 schedule.

← Back to the newsroom
Pre-season Girls Volleyball

WNY Athletics Staff ·

Overview

  • Riley Whitmer returns after a 2025-26 season with 261 kills, 199 digs, 30 aces and 13 blocks.
  • Karle Northrup returns after posting 79 kills, 115 digs, 42 aces and 38 assists in 2025-26.
  • Ellicottville enters 2026 after an 18-6 season, with Danielle Norton as head coach.
  • Ellicottville is scheduled to open Sept. 1 against Forestville and close the regular-season slate Oct. 21 at North Collins.

Ellicottville Girls Volleyball Preview

Ellicottville enters the 2026 girls volleyball season under head coach Danielle Norton after an 18-6 finish in 2025-26, with a small senior class, a large junior group and returning production from Riley Whitmer and Karle Northrup.

Riley Whitmer, a senior, gives Ellicottville its most established production. As a junior in 2025-26, Whitmer recorded 261 kills, 199 digs, 30 aces and 13 blocks over 24 matches. She has also been a varsity contributor across multiple seasons, with 184 kills and 46 blocks as a sophomore and 79 kills as a freshman.

Karle Northrup, now a junior, adds another experienced piece after a 2025-26 season that included 79 kills, 115 digs, 42 aces and 38 assists. That mix of scoring, serving, defense and setting production gives Ellicottville another returning player with multiple ways to affect a match.

Katie Lafferty also returns as part of the junior class after playing 24 matches in 2025-26, when she had 29 kills, 10 aces and two blocks. Bre Byroads joins Whitmer in the senior class, while the junior group also includes Audri Finch, Riley Northrup, Abigail Rust, Marlee Maynard, Rylie Button and Briyona Tarr.

The younger names on the roster include freshman Charlie Norton and eighth graders Shiloh Miller and Rose Benjamin.

Ellicottville is scheduled to begin Sept. 1 against Forestville, with early home dates against Salamanca, Allegany-Limestone, Catt-Little Valley and North Collins. The stretch run includes matches against Randolph, Gowanda, West Valley/Franklinville and a regular-season finale Oct. 21 at North Collins.

Related stories