SPEARFISH, S.D. — The Spearfish Lady Spartans enter the 2026 volleyball season with high expectations after posting consecutive 20-win seasons and qualifying for the SoDak 16 in each of the last two years.
Head coach Shelbie Richards begins her fourth season at the helm with a program that finished 20-13 in 2025, falling to Mitchell in the SoDak 16. The year before, Spearfish went 23-10 before being eliminated by Aberdeen Central. The Spartans open the new campaign tonight at home against Rapid City Central.
Spearfish returns a strong core led by junior standout Julia Billington, who is expected to be one of the Black Hills’ top offensive threats. Billington led the team last season with 253 kills, while also contributing 31 blocks, 62 digs, and 32 service aces. Her versatility at the net will again make her a focal point of the Spartans’ attack.
Senior outside hitter Addison Keller provides veteran leadership after contributing 47 kills last season, while senior setter Piper Jacobs and senior libero Avery Dahl anchor an experienced back row and serve-receive unit. Junior middle hitter Taylor Burry, junior right side Mia Barnhart, and junior Lily Rath give Spearfish additional experience in the front row.
The Spartans also bring in several younger players who could make an immediate impact, including freshman Finley Bouman, a 6-foot setter/middle hitter, and freshman outside hitter Layla Meredith.
As a team, Spearfish produced impressive numbers a season ago, totaling 1,002 kills, 912 assists, 218 blocks, 1,424 digs, and 212 aces while hitting .221 and serving at an 81.1 percent clip. Those numbers indicate a balanced team capable of scoring from multiple positions while playing solid defense.
The season begins with a challenging early schedule. Following tonight’s opener against Rapid City Central, the Spartans will compete at the Huron Tournament before heading to Hill City and the Gillette Invitational.
Rapid City Central enters the season in rebuilding mode after graduating 11 seniors from last year’s squad. The Cobblers finished 3-20 in 2025, though they still qualified for the SoDak 16 before falling to Brandon Valley. Despite recent struggles, Central returns several players expected to take on larger roles, including juniors Jazzy Williams, Mara Brewer, Reagan Page, Addyson Stauffacher, Madison Palmer, and Grace Steele, along with senior Braelynn Brown and senior Leah Landry.
With experience returning at key positions and momentum from consecutive postseason appearances, the Lady Spartans appear poised to contend once again in Class AA as they begin the 2026 season. Tonight’s matchup against Rapid City Central offers the first opportunity to see whether Spearfish can continue its upward climb under Richards.
First Serve is planned for 7:30 P.M. MT in Spearfish. Fans can listen to the game on KDSJ Radio, kdsj980.com, and the KDSJ Sports Mobile App, with Claysen Davis and Paul James on the call. The game will also be streamed on KDSJ-TV on YouTube and on KDSJ’s Facebook Live!
Listen Live: https://www.kdsj980.com/player/?playerID=3032
Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/live/unNf1RFEyRk?si=g0qXD2TQMDEdltaV
