Medina enters 2026 with senior core and proven service pressure

Overview

• Medina enters 2026 after a 1-12 season, with seven seniors on the roster.
• Samantha Heschke returns after serving 32 aces in 2025-26.
• Maya Anderson has been a consistent front-row contributor, with 20 kills, 18 blocks and nine aces as a junior in 2025-26.
• Maddy Watts has recorded 42 career aces across three prior varsity seasons, giving Medina another experienced serving option.
• Medina opens Sept. 3 at Alden and hosts Newfane on Sept. 9, with the return match at Newfane on Sept. 21.

After finishing 1-12 in 2025-26, Medina enters the 2026 girls volleyball season with an experienced senior class and a few returning players with multi-year varsity production.

The roster lists seven seniors: Maddy Watts, Maya Anderson, Samantha Heschke, Cassidy Janas, Teagan Balaban, Raelynn Baker and Grace Goodrich. Four juniors and two sophomores round out the group, giving coach Connie Heschke a roster with upper-class numbers but still room for newer players to grow into larger roles.

Samantha Heschke brings three seasons of varsity experience. As a junior in 2025-26, she had 32 aces and 13 kills. Across the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, Heschke totaled 75 aces, 47 digs and 37 kills.

Maya Anderson gives Medina returning front-row production. Anderson had 20 kills, 18 blocks and nine aces in 2025-26 after posting 24 kills and 17 blocks as a sophomore in 2024-25.

Watts also brings a long varsity record into her senior season. Her career line includes 42 aces over the previous three seasons, highlighted by 22 aces in 2024-25 and 13 more in 2023-24. Caliyah St. Louis, Cassidy Janas and Teagan Balaban also return with varsity experience.

Medina opens Sept. 3 at Alden and hosts Newfane on Sept. 9. September continues with Akron on Sept. 15, Wilson on Sept. 17, Roy-Hart on Sept. 18, Newfane on Sept. 21 and Albion on Sept. 25. In October, Medina is scheduled to see Health Sciences, Akron, Wilson, Lyndonville, Roy-Hart and Albion.