The DGN girls volleyball team has seen plenty of success throughout the past four years. 

Helping the team to a 2018 runners up trophy as well as helping develop two division one athletes, strong stats, and an all-American athlete, head volleyball coach Mark Wasik remarks on their journey. 

“It is really cool to have that level of talent and commitment on your team. The team is full of very driven athletes,” Wasik said.

DGN’s starting libero, senior Maddi Cuchran, signed a letter of commitment at the University of Michigan. 

One of Cuchran’s achievements is receiving an All-American trophy for volleyball and she names this ‘as one of her best accomplishments’.  

Wasik also explained how, without the cancellation of the season, Cuchran likely would’ve been DGN’s all-time record-holder for most digs.

“If we had a regular year I think Maddi would have been our all-time dig leader in the history of our program, partly because she’s already broken the record for single-season diggs,” Wasik said.

As Cuchran parts ways with DGN this year, she expresses the excitement she has for her upcoming experiences playing with U of M. 

“I am most excited to play with and against some of the best volleyball players around the country,” Cuchran said. “Also to be coached at a high level with a lot of competition.”

Junior Gwen Wolkow recently joined Cuchran on the D1 path by verbally committing to Campbell University as a sixth-rotation outside hitter.

Wolkow made her way onto the varsity team her freshman year and played as a starter for a position that she had little familiarity with. She played middle hitter through the state championship and quickly arose to become one of the most dominant hitters in the state. 

“I was happy that I could easily adapt to both positions, but being a freshman I feel Coach Wasik helped me adapt to being a middle a lot faster than I thought I would,” Wolkow said. “Playing outside has a lot of different demands, but I was excited to fill that position on the DGN team sophomore year.”

Junior Sandy Brindl, a teammate of Wolkow gives words of encouragement for her new path. 

“I have been playing with her since seventh grade and know her as a dedicated and hard-working person. I am so excited to see her flourish in a new setting,” Brindl said.

The girls volleyball season is anticipated to start March 8 and many members of the team are excited for what this season will hold. Junior Payton Janiki thinks this will help the team restore normalcy. 

“We have been waiting for so long to get through COVID,” Janiki said. “I think the season finally being able to be played will help a lot of students return to the normal feeling again.”