Heart and grit drive Vigilante volleyball to first Divisional

In her first year leading East Helena High volleyball, Coach Shelby Holmes helped a young, inexperienced team develop into one of the conference’s most competitive squads— and make program history by qualifying for the Divisional Tournament.

“This season was one of tremendous growth and connection,” Holmes said. “We were a young team in a competitive conference, but our players rose to every challenge. From the first day of practice to our final match, the girls showed consistent improvement, trust in each other, and a belief in what we were building.”

What stood out to Holmes wasn’t just the wins, but the culture the team built along the way. Seniors like Rori Schoenfeld and Lauren Betz set the tone with strong leadership, while younger players stepped into crucial roles. “Everyone bought into their role and focused on our shared goals,” Holmes said. “Their growth — individually and collectively — made this one of East Helena’s best seasons yet.”