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

Gowanda enters 2026 volleyball season with proven varsity production

Brenda Gernatt's roster includes several players with 2025-26 production, including Bella Maines, Lilliana Pierce, Envy Cross, Maleina Moses, Evalene John and Aubrey Smuda.

← Back to the newsroom
Pre-season Girls Volleyball

WNY Athletics Staff ·

Overview

  • Brenda Gernatt leads Gowanda into 2026 after a 14-5 season in 2025-26.
  • Bella Maines returns at setter after recording 531 assists and 117 digs as a sophomore in 2025-26.
  • Envy Cross returns after recording 111 kills and 51 blocks; Lilliana Pierce and Maleina Moses added 83 and 80 kills, respectively, last season.
  • Gowanda's schedule includes September dates with Eden, Ellicottville, Randolph, Allegany-Limestone and Catt-Little Valley, plus an Oct. 21 match with Chautauqua Lake.

Gowanda Girls Volleyball 2026-27 Preseason Preview

Gowanda enters the 2026-27 girls volleyball season after a 14-5 season, with Brenda Gernatt as head coach and a roster that includes several players with established varsity production from 2025-26.

The returning group includes setter Bella Maines, who recorded 531 assists, 117 digs and 25 aces as a sophomore last season. She returns as a junior setter.

Gowanda also brings back multiple front-row contributors. Lilliana Pierce had 83 kills and 25 blocks as a junior in 2025-26, while Envy Cross added 111 kills and 51 blocks as a sophomore. Maleina Moses, another senior on the 2026 roster, posted 80 kills, 125 digs and 40 aces last season.

The defensive group also has prior varsity production. Libero Aubrey Smuda had 122 digs in 2025-26. Defensive specialist/outside hitter Evalene John had 95 digs and 14 aces as a freshman last season.

The 2026 roster includes three seniors in Pierce, Moses and Smuda. Maines, Cross, Zoey Bartlett, Taylor Tussing and Sophia Bobseine make up the Class of 2028 group, with Evalene John listed in the Class of 2029 and Scarlett John in the Class of 2030.

The schedule gives Gowanda a busy September. Gowanda is scheduled to face Springville, Catt-Little Valley, West Valley/Franklinville, Salamanca and North Collins early, then travel to Eden on Sept. 16 and Ellicottville on Sept. 17. Randolph visits on Sept. 22, followed by a trip to Allegany-Limestone on Sept. 24 and another meeting with Catt-Little Valley on Sept. 29.

October includes West Valley/Franklinville, Forestville, Salamanca, Ellicottville and Randolph before Gowanda hosts Allegany-Limestone on Oct. 20 and Chautauqua Lake on Oct. 21.

Related stories