Lake Oconee Academy volleyball enters the 2026 season with a veteran roster, a strong team culture, and championship aspirations.
The Titans return one of their most experienced groups in program history, led by seven seniors who have embraced the responsibility of setting the standard for the program both on and off the court.
“Our goal is simple: compete for championships while continuing to build young women of character,” head coach Chris Ingle said. “We want to win our area, make a run in the state playoffs, and play our best volleyball when October arrives.
“At the same time, we want our players to grow as leaders, teammates, and representatives of Lake Oconee Academy.”
LOA will face a new challenge this season after moving into Area 4-A Division II, which includes Aquinas, Davidson Fine Arts, Dublin, Georgia School for Innovation, Glenn Hills, Greene County, Jasper County, Johnson-Augusta, Josey, Laney, and Washington-Wilkes.
The Titans’ senior class features Jordan Klevansky, Lily Dominy, Mackenzie King, Jolie Chamberlain, Jessica White, Emma Dimascio, and Shelby Marullo, a group Ingle believes has played a major role in building the program’s identity.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth,” Ingle said. “Our seven seniors have taken ownership of the culture, and they’ve done a great job helping our whole program understand the standard.”
That leadership has helped LOA grow not only as individual players, but also as a team. While the Titans have continued to improve physically and skill-wise, Ingle said the biggest difference has been the connection between players.
“Individually, we’ve become stronger, faster, and more skilled, but what excites me most is how connected this group has become,” he said. “They have learned to trust one another and truly compete for each other.”
The Titans return a strong group of contributors from last season, led by King, who finished as the team leader in kills. King will once again be a key part of LOA’s offense, while several other returners are expected to play major roles.
Dimascio returns to help lead the offense at setter, while Marullo and Mokan provide experience and size at the net. Chamberlain brings back valuable defensive experience, and Martinez-Medrano returns after making a major impact last season as one of the Titans’ productive offensive players.
With experience at multiple positions, Ingle believes LOA’s depth will be one of its biggest strengths this season.
“Our biggest strengths will be our depth, experience, and competitive mindset,” Ingle said. “We have players who understand what it takes to win, and we have several younger athletes pushing for a lot of playing time. That competition makes everyone better.”
Along with the returning veterans, the Titans will look for continued growth from their younger players, including Audrey Brigola, Amelia Ingle, and Sophia Peters, who will add depth and competition throughout the roster.
“We’re fortunate to have our largest number ever of experienced returners who have played in big matches, and they’re providing excellent leadership,” Ingle said. “We also have some talented newcomers who have had outstanding offseasons. Instead of relying on one player, we believe this team will be successful because of the contributions from everyone on the team.”
Ingle said he’s looking forward to seeing what this altered approach can deliver for Titans volleyball this season.
“Our offseason emphasis has been on serving, serve receive, and defense,” Ingle said. “Those are the areas that separate good teams from great teams.”
LOA has also emphasized the mental side of the game, focusing on communication, leadership, and preparing players for the challenges of a long season.
“We try to compete in every drill that we do,” Ingle said. “We’ve also spent a lot of time improving our mental approach, communication, and physical development so we’re prepared for the demands of a long season.”
For Ingle, building a successful program starts with chemistry, and he believes the Titans’ bond has been built through years of intentional work.
“Chemistry doesn’t happen by accident,” Ingle said. “We have been building this culture for years and years.”
The Titans recently attended a three-day intensive camp at Mercer University, giving the team another opportunity to compete, improve, and continue building relationships.
LOA’s returning players have also embraced their roles as leaders, helping younger teammates adjust and creating an environment where everyone feels included.
“Our returning players have embraced mentoring our newcomers, and that’s helped create a culture where everyone feels valued and part of the family,” Ingle said.
With experience across the roster and a culture built around accountability and teamwork, the Titans enter the season confident in their ability to compete with the best teams in their new area.