The Ellinwood High School volleyball team made history in 2025, finishing a perfect 47-0 and capturing the program’s first-ever Kansas Class 2A state championship,
Sports in Kansas has predicted that Ellinwood is the favorite to repeat as Class 2A state champions. Valley Heights is predicted to finish second, followed by Hillsboro and Jefferson County North.
Head coach Greg Maxwell enters his ninth season leading the volleyball program at Ellinwood. Maxwell owns a 279-49 record as a head volleyball coach.
Maxwell has 30 years of coaching experience across multiple sports and has spent his entire volleyball head coaching career at Ellinwood.
The Eagles return six players from last year’s championship team. The returning group features significant experience, including multiple four-year and three-year starters, giving Ellinwood a strong foundation as it looks to make another championship run.
Senior six-rotation setter/outside hitter Alyvia Batchman leads the returning group after earning first-team All-State honors in 2A last season.
A four-year starter, Batchman surpassed 1,000 assists as a junior and enters her senior season as one of the team’s primary leaders and playmakers.
Junior six-rotation setter/outside hitter Mette Maxwell also returns after earning second-team All-State honors in 2025. Maxwell surpassed 1,000 assists last season, hit .341 and set the school record for aces in a season.
Senior libero Bennett Jacobs gives Ellinwood four years of starting experience in the back row, while junior middle hitter Ayla Ritchie enters her third year as a starter after an impressive summer.
Junior right-side hitter Brynn Widener is another three-year starter who has taken a step forward offensively and will be an important piece at the net and in serve receive.
“We are very excited for the opportunity to defend our first state title in school history,” Maxwell told Sports In Kansas. “We have a lot of veteran leadership and production returning and we have our goals set on competing for back-to-back championships.”
Ellinwood opens the season Tuesday with a home triangular against defending Class 1A Division I state champion Little River and Class 2A power Inman.
The Eagles host Beloit at 5 p.m. next Thursday.
