By HUNTER O. LYLE
DUKE CENTER, PA – In their first showing back in the Terror Dome, the Otto-Eldred volleyball team earned another win within its walls, downing Cameron County in three sets as they christened the 2026 campaign.
Entering her second season as head coach, Amber App and the Lady Terrors are fresh off another successful season, one that garnered a lop-sided win column and trip to the playoffs. Returning the vast majority of their power-packed core, O-E is ready to learn from their previous trials and get back to the grind.
“I feel like we did very well last year. I feel like we had a lot to grow, like in our own heads,” said App, whose team made it to the District 9 Class A Quarterfinals in 2025 before falling to the eventual champions, Elk County Catholic. “But we have come so far with that this year. I’m telling you, we’re a totally different team this year.”
However, despite their confidence, their early reps failed to find a footing against the Lady Raiders. Being on the receiving end of several spikes and slams, numerous of which came from Milla Magaro, as well as being unable to get their own hitters going, O-E fell behind early, dropping back 5-1. Although they eventually opened up their front line, unleashing their powerhouse hitting Rayel Hakes who was initially snubbed by Cam Co’s net protection, the Lady Terrors were unable to break away.
As they continued to send the ball over the net, they ultimately earned their window not from the front line but from the back. Sparking their largest run of the night, the Lady Terrors bolstered their lead with phenomenal work from the service line. Tallying five aces along the way, O-E extended their heat streak to a 15-3 stretch that swelled their lead to double-digits.
Their late-first-set cushion held strong, producing a 25-18 win, and their momentum quickly carried over into the second.
“(Early in training camp) we sat down and talked and talked about our goals. We talked about how if we start off slow and aren’t doing too well, we’re not going to get down,” said App. “We had a tournament over the past weekend and we worked on (our focus) the whole time. It helped then and it’ll help the whole season as well.”
Out of the gates, the Lady Terrors came alive. Between a handful of aces and a barrage of spikes from Hakes and Ayla Van Scoter, O-E swiftly built a 9-3 advantage. Seldom interrupted, they continued to pile on the points as they pulled away 16-9.
“(Hakes and Van Scoter) have become leaders. They led the team tonight, but really, it’s not just those two,” said App. “I don’t just have to focus on them. The whole team can really hit. The whole team can pass. It takes us all.”
However, finding a late surge via attrition, their own occasional hard-hit volleys and staunch defense at the net, Cam Co began to rally. Stringing together four unanswered points, the Lady Raiders drew within three at 16-13, but ultimately, their tanks ran out. Down the final stretch, the Lady Terrors finished them off cleanly, continuing to pound in points up front and from the line as they closed the door, winning 25-14.
Heading into the final set, it was all Blue and Gold. With the team in full force, the Lady Terrors looked unstoppable and uncontainable. An early 6-2 advantage ballooned to 12-4 and sooner rather than later, the lead was out of reach. O-E finished off the night, earning their first official win of the season, with a 24-11 third set victory.
Hakes ended with a team-high 14 kills alongside four digs in the win, while Van Scoter came away with seven digs, six kills and two aces. Emma Button recorded 24 assists, four kills and a pair of aces, followed by Jahden Smith with three kills and two aces.
Notching their first win in their belt, a North Tier League one as well, the Lady Terrors are ready to make another push towards the District 9 title. Without looking too far down the line, however, the key to their goals is sustained growth and consistent confidence.
“No matter what team that we play, we’re going to have to work hard all the time and not give up,” said App. “Don’t give up, don’t slack, keep going.”
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