By Keeghan Gittins
For The New Era
Sweet Home volleyball closed out its 2025 season with a celebration at its annual awards banquet, held Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The event capped off a year that Head Coach Katie Dargis described as one of growth, resilience, and teamwork, both on and off the court.
“Overall, the season went great,” Dargis said. “We ended up with a 10-12 record and 3-7 in league, with some fun wins that were close games. Those wins that end up going to four or five sets are so fun to watch because the girls continue to dig in and work hard to earn them.”
The Huskies improved on their record from the previous year, 4-15, and also a 3-7 record in league.
Sweet Home faced a tough league, playing in the Oregon West Conference, with six of their losses coming against three league opponents that finished in the state’s top 10.
“We may have lost to them, but we were able to take a couple of sets from some of them, like Stayton and Cascade,” Dargis noted.
One of the team’s biggest accomplishments came at the Cascade Tournament, where Sweet Home took first place in the silver bracket. Dargis also emphasized the team’s season-long goal of building a culture of respect and encouragement. “As the season progressed, we continued to get better and better at that goal, eventually it didn’t need to be discussed as often because it became a norm.” Said Dargis.
The Huskies benefited from a roster filled with experienced varsity players.
“Having many returning varsity players meant they came in knowing the quicker pace of the game, the accuracy of opponents, and the mental toughness they would need,” Dargis said.
Among those key players were Karissa Jewell, a standout back row leader known for her energy and defensive skills; Kaitlyn Kennedy, an all-around contributor who excelled across every stat category; and Aaliyah Brown, a consistent front row hitter who also became more comfortable in back-row play. Dargis also highlighted Hannah Nicholson, who earned her first varsity experience this year and proved valuable in multiple positions, as well as Amara Gonzales, Kalissa Ellis, and Lexi Rundell for their strong play and team-first attitudes.
At the banquet, the team recognized several players with end-of-season honors, voted on by a mix of players and coaching staff:
- Trinity Victor – Teammate Award
- Karissa Jewell – Clutch Performance Award
- Hannah Nicholson – Coach’s Award
- Kalissa Ellis – Sportsmanship Award
- Aaliyah Brown – Transformation Award
Third-year letter winners were: Karissa Jewell, Miley Smith and Trinity Victor.
Second-year letters went to Aaliyah Brown, Keira Johnson, Kaitlyn Kennedy and Aubrey Newberry.
Receiving their first letter were Kalissa Ellis, Amara Gonzales, Hannah Nicholson and Lexi Rundell.
“I’m proud, not only of the team’s accomplishments, but also of their commitment to each other,” Dargis said. “This group really learned to compete with heart… They grew together, supported each other, and made Sweet Home proud.”