Forestville returns Cross and Gruber for 2026 volleyball season

Overview

• Forestville enters 2026 after a 3-14 season, with Ryanne Dugan as head coach.
• Senior hitters Eliana Cross and Ava Gruber return alongside setter/outside hitter Elizabeth Case and defensive specialist/libero Emily Lillie.
• The Hornets open Sept. 1 at Ellicottville, then host Silver Creek Sept. 8 and Sherman Sept. 14.

Forestville Girls Volleyball Pre-Season Preview

Forestville enters the 2026 girls volleyball season under head coach Ryanne Dugan with a nine-player roster and a schedule that gives the Hornets steady looks at familiar opponents through September and October.

The roster is split across three classes. Eliana Cross and Ava Gruber are the team's two seniors, giving Forestville a small Class of 2027 group. The junior class is the largest on the roster, with Nicolette Adgate, Jazmyn Bertino, Elizabeth Case, Emily Lillie and Olivia Valentine. Sophomores Alana Emke and Avery Rebmann round out the group.

Forestville finished 3-14 in 2025-26. Case returns at setter/outside hitter, and Lillie returns as a defensive specialist/libero. Cross and Gruber provide returning experience at the pins, with Gruber also playing in the middle.

The early part of the schedule sends Forestville to Ellicottville on Sept. 1 before a Sept. 8 home match with Silver Creek. From there, the Hornets are scheduled to host Sherman on Sept. 14, visit Clymer on Sept. 15 and travel to Silver Creek on Sept. 18.

The rest of September includes road matches at Cassadaga Valley and Pine Valley around a home date with North Collins. October brings rematches with Sherman, Clymer, Cassadaga Valley, North Collins and Pine Valley, along with home matches against Gowanda and Westfield.