​Last season was unlike anything East Union had ever seen in volleyball.In 2025, the Urchins won a school-record 32 games and advanced further than they ever had – the state quarterfinals – before losing to eventual Class 2A champion Walnut. There’s reason to believe they can do something similar in 2026.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We return a pretty good nucleus of athletes that we hope has a chance to gel and come together and be really good,” coach Josh Blythe said. “Only time will tell how that comes together, but early on, I like the pieces.”The pieces will not include a trio of valuable seniors. Roxie Robertson had a team-best 264 kills and 57 blocks; Caroline Sherwood led with 695 digs and 390 serve receives; and Ali Cooper had 205 kills and could be moved around almost anywhere.East Union does get some help from West Union in the form of two transfers who are sisters. Ann Fleming LeFlore had 292 kills for the Eagles as a sophomore last year while Taylor, a freshman last season, had 335 assists.“I think they are two really good athletes that are going to help us,” Blythe said of the transfers. “Anne, obviously, is a decorated outside hitter who can swing it really well, and Taylor set a lot at West Union. We’re going to kind of move her around a little bit.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnn Fleming will be one of the team’s main attackers alongside Marley Clayton. Blythe has high hopes for Lily Kate Johnson and Lilly Mae Watson as forces at the net. Reagan Johnson will be asked to do a lot of what Sherwood did. Lucy Cochran is expected to play a meaningful role as well.The Leflore sisters join a group of girls that is quite used to filling the trophy cabinets at East Union Attendance Center. The Urchins have won four straight softball titles, reached two straight girls basketball finals and won a gold ball in March.East Union didn’t have championships in either sport before this group came along. The opportunity to win another in volleyball makes them that much hungrier.“I’ve been doing it long enough to know they don’t come through all the time like this,” Blythe said. “There’s a hunger to, whenever they leave it, to be the best that’s ever done it. Those things obviously motivate you and drive you. Now you get an opportunity to do it again.”