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

JFK Enters 2026 Senior-Heavy, With Hirner Setting The Example

Coach Andrew Chudy said JFK has a senior-heavy roster but still needs experience, with captain Carla Hirner carrying the deepest volleyball background.

← Back to the newsroom
Pre-season Girls Volleyball

WNY Athletics Staff ·

Overview

  • Andrew Chudy enters the season after coaching varsity volleyball for the last seven years.
  • Chudy described JFK as "Very senior heavy, but lack a lot of experience."
  • Carla Hirner is JFK's captain and the team's most established returning player.
  • In 2025-26, Hirner had 62 kills, 66 digs and 29 aces over 18 matches.
  • JFK is scheduled to open Sept. 2 at Eden, with its first home match set for Sept. 14 against Alden.

JFK Girls Volleyball 2026-27 Preseason Preview

JFK enters the 2026 girls volleyball season with seven seniors and a need to build experience, according to coach Andrew Chudy.

Chudy, who has coached varsity volleyball for the last seven years, described JFK's outlook plainly: "Very senior heavy, but lack a lot of experience."

JFK's roster lists seven seniors: Carla Hirner, Eh Naw, Gabby Stack, Celia Reveles, Aniyah Spidell, Brooklyn Unger and Erica Reader. The group gives JFK a large Class of 2027 presence, but Chudy's view of the team is still rooted in development.

Hirner Leads The Returners

Hirner is the clearest foundation piece. Chudy said she "has by far the most volleyball played" and added that she is a captain who "has to lead by example."

Her prior production backs up that role. In 2025-26, Hirner played 18 matches and finished with 62 kills, 66 digs and 29 aces. She also had 20 kills, 35 digs and 32 aces as a sophomore in 2024-25, giving JFK a captain with multiple seasons of varsity experience.

Several other players return with varsity experience. Reveles had 33 assists and 30 digs in 2025-26, Spidell had 58 assists and 56 digs, Stack had 18 kills, 29 assists, 27 digs and 14 aces, and Reader had 29 kills, 28 digs and 17 aces.

Schedule Landmarks

JFK is scheduled to open the season Sept. 2 at Eden, followed by road matches Sept. 8 at Tonawanda and Sept. 10 at Holland.

JFK's first home match is set for Sept. 14 against Alden. JFK is also scheduled to host West Seneca East on Sept. 15, Cleveland Hill on Sept. 18, Eden on Sept. 30, Lackawanna on Oct. 1, Holland on Oct. 5 and Tapestry on Oct. 20.

The road slate later includes Wilson, Lackawanna, Tapestry, Alden, Cheektowaga, Cleveland Hill, Newfane and Sweet Home.

Fans can watch through Hudl Fan.

Related stories