Hilliard Darby brings volleyball to the football field

HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) – Volleyball has become the second most popular sport in the country for high school girls, gaining more participants every year for more than 40 years; the only girls' sport with more athletes is track and field.

At Hilliard Darby High School, they’re taking the court outside for a one-of-a-kind experience for the athletes and spectators.

The Stadium Series put hockey in Ohio Stadium, and Monday will be the first time in central Ohio for an outdoor volleyball game, a special night for Hillard Darby’s seniors, but not without some hard work to make it happen.

"We were all here at 1 o’clock yesterday; we didn't finish until like 6:30 p.m.,” Hilliard Darby senior Kameryn Durbin said.

"We had to start by putting all this black part down and that took us a really long time, like two hours,” Hilliard Darby senior Cami Ludban added.

Volleyball is played outdoors all the time, typically on sand and not a hard court. But the fastest growing high school sport in the country is pushing the boundaries.

"It's a big talk around the town and everything that they're going to come out and support us and watch the game because we're playing Hilliard Bradley," Hilliard Darby head girls’ volleyball coach Herb Sharfenaker said. "We're just having fun with it and, you know, it just grows and grows. I mean, we have open practice and we have people here."

Hilliard Darby Athletic Director Chris Ludban watched Nebraska University play volleyball in front of more than 90,000 fans and decided he wanted to bring that atmosphere, albeit on a smaller scale, to their school, and first-year coach Sharfenaker was all for it.

“It's going to be like a Friday night football game, but watching Monday night volleyball,” Sharfenaker said.

The game of volleyball has steadily become one of the most played youth sports in the country. The National Federation of State High School Associations estimated more than 470,000 student-athletes played high school volleyball in the United States during the 2022-2023 school year. Meanwhile, USA Volleyball, an organization of club volleyball teams around the country, had a membership of more than 330,000 athletes ages 11-18 in 2024, a 40% increase from ten years ago.

"The points go so fast, there's long rallies,” Ludban said. “I think it's just everyone is, like, starting to watch it, and it's growing so fast. It's just taught me so much. I think leadership is a really big one."

"I wanted a team, I wanted a family, so from there on, I've had one and it's been great,” Hilliard Darby senior Jillian Fisher said.

"I've learned to be a hard worker,” Durbin said. “You don't just get it. You have to work hard for what you want. That has helped me a lot. It helps you with time management in school, just helps through all aspects."

Sharfenaker sees that growth and points to the team’s comeback win last week after falling down 2-0.

"You're going to get knocked down and whatever you do, get back up and swing and do it,” he said.

Monday’s senior night will be different for many reasons – the setting is the most obvious.

“In the gym, there's no sun and then the ceiling, you can pass as high as you want here, and then I think the wind is going to play a big factor in that for serving and passing,” Fisher said.

"You might serve different,” Durbin said. “So, like, the wind is coming at you, you it might blow out of bounds, or it might not make it as far."

All of Hilliard Darby’s girls’ volleyball teams – middle school, freshman, junior varsity, and varsity – had a chance to practice on the outdoor court, and all the teams will play Monday with games starting at 5 p.m. and the varsity squad scheduled to take the court at 8 p.m.