Willoughby South Volleyball made sure its regular season ended with a championship celebration.
The Rebels defeated Chardon Volleyball, 25-22, 25-19, 25-27, 25-16, Thursday night to clinch at least a share of the Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division championship and improve to 20-2 overall.
South now awaits the outcome of Saturday’s match between Perry Volleyball and Hawken Volleyball to learn whether it will share the crown or claim it outright.
A Perry victory would give the Pirates a share of the championship, while a loss would leave South alone atop the division standings.
For South senior Makayla Schneider, the championship represents the culmination of months of preparation, hard work, and dedication.
“Earning a conference title as a senior would mean a lot to me because I know how hard our team has worked for it,” Schneider said. “It makes it even more special knowing that this is my last year, and I’m proud of what we have accomplished together.”
The Rebels entered Thursday’s contest seeking their second victory over Chardon this season after defeating the Hilltoppers in four sets on Sept. 23.
But Chardon wasn’t about to make South’s championship-clinching victory an easy one.
The Hilltoppers challenged South throughout the opening two sets, pushing the Rebels before falling, 25-22 and 25-19.
Chardon continued to battle in the third set, extending the contest with a 27-25 victory that forced South to regroup.
Schneider credited Chardon’s defensive effort for making the match so competitive.
“Tonight, Chardon was making it hard for the Rebels with their good defense,” she said. “They would make some awesome ups, but no matter what, our team wouldn’t give up and kept playing hard.”
Rather than allowing the third-set setback to shift the momentum permanently, South responded with a decisive performance in the fourth.
The Rebels closed out the match with a 25-16 victory, completing the season sweep of Chardon and securing their place atop the Chagrin Division standings.
Schneider said the difference came down to the Rebels’ ability to trust one another and execute when the match became difficult.
“Our aggressive swings, strong defense, and good communication played a big role in helping us pull out the win tonight,” she said. “We worked hard to keep the ball in play, encouraged each other through tough moments, and trusted one another to make plays when it mattered most.”
Thursday’s victory was South’s third straight since a five-set loss at Perry on Oct. 6.
The Rebels responded to that setback with consecutive sweeps of Hawken and Solon before closing the regular season with Thursday’s championship-clinching performance.
South’s 20-win campaign included 14 sweeps and six victories over opponents with winning records. The Rebels also won both regular-season meetings with Chardon by identical 3-1 scores.
The conference championship is another accomplishment for a team that has demonstrated its ability to win in different ways throughout the season.
South swept many of its opponents but also survived several competitive matches, including five-set victories over Perry on Sept. 10 and Orange on Sept. 29.
Those experiences could prove valuable as the Rebels turn their attention toward the postseason.
Rebels prepare for Division III tournament
South will have nearly two weeks to prepare for its postseason opener.
The Rebels will host either North Olmsted Volleyball or Grafton Midview Volleyball in a Division III sectional championship match on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m.
With a conference championship already secured and 20 victories behind them, the Rebels enter the tournament hoping to extend a memorable season.
Schneider believes South’s ability to maintain its consistency and continue working together will determine how far the Rebels can advance.
“I think the biggest thing for us going into the postseason is staying consistent and continuing to play together as a team,” she said. “We know every match is going to be competitive, so we need to stay focused, bring energy, and fight for every point.”
The senior is confident the Rebels have the pieces necessary to make a strong tournament run.
“If we continue to trust each other and play to our full potential, I think we can make a strong postseason run,” Schneider said.
For now, the Rebels can celebrate earning their share of the conference championship.
By Saturday evening, they could have the crown all to themselves.
WILLOUGHBY SOUTH REBELS Volleyball
2026-2027 Willoughby South Rebels Volleyball Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Result | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 19, 2026 Wednesday | W 3-0 | 6:30 PM | South High School | |
| Aug. 22, 2026 Saturday | W 2-0 | 10:00 AM | South High School | |
| Aug. 22, 2026 Saturday | W 2-0 | 11:00 AM | South High School | |
| Aug. 22, 2026 Saturday | vs  Copley | W 2-0 | 9:00 AM | South High School |
| Aug. 27, 2026 Thursday | W 3-0 | 6:30 PM | North High Gymnasium | |
| Sep. 1, 2026 Tuesday | W 3-0 | 6:00 PM | Harvey | |
| Sep. 3, 2026 Thursday | vs  Orange Lions | W 3-0 | 6:30 PM | South |
| Sep. 8, 2026 Tuesday | W 3-1 | 6:00 PM | West Geauga Watch | |
| Sep. 10, 2026 Thursday | W 3-2 | 6:30 PM | South | |
| Sep. 12, 2026 Saturday | L 1-2 | 12:30 PM | Perry | |
| Sep. 12, 2026 Saturday | W 2-0 | 8:30 AM | Madison | |
| Sep. 12, 2026 Saturday | W 2-0 | 9:45 AM | Willoughby South | |
| Sep. 15, 2026 Tuesday | vs  Hawken Hawks | W 3-0 | 6:30 PM | South Watch |
| Sep. 17, 2026 Thursday | W 3-0 | 6:00 PM | Gym | |
| Sep. 23, 2026 Wednesday | W 3-1 | 6:30 PM | Chardon High School Gymnasium Watch | |
| Sep. 24, 2026 Thursday | W 3-0 | 6:00 PM | South | |
| Sep. 29, 2026 Tuesday | W 3-2 | 6:30 PM | Orange | |
| Oct. 1, 2026 Thursday | W 3-1 | 6:30 PM | South Watch | |
| Oct. 6, 2026 Tuesday | 6:00 PM | GHS Main Gym | ||
| Oct. 6, 2026 Tuesday | L 2-3 | 6:00 PM | Perry Watch | |
| Oct. 8, 2026 Thursday | W 3-0 | 6:00 PM | Hawken | |
| Oct. 10, 2026 Saturday | vs  Solon | W 3-0 | 11:00 AM | South High School |
| Oct. 15, 2026 Thursday | W 3-1 | 6:30 PM | South | |
| Oct. 27, 2026 Tuesday | vs  Midview | L 1-3 | 5:00 PM | Boardman |
North Rangers
Geneva Eagles
North Olmsted
Harvey Red Raiders
West Geauga Wolverines
Perry Pirates
Madison Blue Streaks
Berkshire Badgers
Chardon Hilltoppers
