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Grand Island Enters 2026 With A Deep Junior Group

After a 17-4 season in 2025-26, Grand Island's 2026 roster includes four seniors, eight juniors and returning options across the pins, middle and setting positions.

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Pre-season Girls Volleyball

WNY Athletics Staff ·

Overview

  • Grand Island finished 17-4 in 2025-26 and enters 2026 under head coach Johnathan Head.
  • Senior returners include Abigail Ruminski, Kelly Coram, Layla Oursler and Kailyn Smith; Eleanor Murray and Elizabeth Pfeil return at setter.
  • Senior Layla Oursler brings the most substantive recorded career production, with 53 kills, 36 aces and nine digs in 2023-24.
  • The schedule includes September matches with Lewiston-Porter, Niagara Wheatfield, Lockport, Frontier, Niagara Falls, CSAT and Lancaster before a mostly rematch-heavy October.

Grand Island Girls Volleyball Pre-Season Preview

Grand Island enters the 2026 girls volleyball season under head coach Johnathan Head after a 17-4 finish in 2025-26.

The roster gives Grand Island a large junior class and a four-player senior group. Seniors Abigail Ruminski, Kelly Coram, Layla Oursler and Kailyn Smith are joined by eight juniors: Sienna Lenze, Kendall Duscher, Kayden Wylke, Eleanor Murray, Madelyn Pfeil, Mia McGowan, Hazel Shephard and Matilyn Wolski.

Grand Island also has three sophomores in Elizabeth Pfeil, Skylar Pachura and Peyton Lansberry, plus freshman Cameron Duscher.

Senior outside hitter Oursler recorded 53 kills and 36 aces as a freshman in 2023-24. Junior Eleanor Murray and sophomore Elizabeth Pfeil return at setter, while junior Sienna Lenze brings experience as a libero/defensive specialist.

Schedule Landmarks

Grand Island opens at home against Kenmore East on Sept. 3, then visits Kenmore West Sept. 8 and hosts North Tonawanda Sept. 11. The team is scheduled to visit Lewiston-Porter on Sept. 14 and Niagara Wheatfield on Sept. 15 before hosting Lockport on Sept. 18. A Sept. 19 match with Frontier follows, with road trips to Niagara Falls on Sept. 22 and Kenmore East on Sept. 30 around home matches against CSAT, Lancaster and Niagara Wheatfield.

October brings home dates with Kenmore West, Lewiston-Porter and Niagara Falls, along with road matches at North Tonawanda, Lockport, CSAT and Williamsville North.

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