Ellis era begins for 2025 Lady Wildcats volleyball team

July 23, 2025 by Ken Lay

When Oak Ridge High School opens the 2025 volleyball season, a new face will lead the Lady Wildcats from the sideline — and the program will face a tougher district slate.

Oak Ridge alum and Anderson County High School graduate Meghan Ellis has been named head coach.

Ellis, who played volleyball for Marcia Wade and current Lady Mavericks Coach Jayme Smith, also served as an assistant volleyball and basketball coach at Clinton High School under Lorri Johnson and Alicia Daugherty.

She takes over a program rich in tradition but still searching for a breakthrough postseason run.

“Oak Ridge has never made it past the region tournament,” Ellis said.

The Lady Wildcats will now compete in a revamped District 3-AAA, which welcomes Anderson County and Gibbs — two teams that reached the Class AA state tournament in Murfreesboro in 2024.

“I think our district got a lot more competitive with those two teams coming in,” Ellis said. “They’re good teams and they will make our district better. In the past, the other district was more competitive, but Gibbs and Anderson County will push us — and our league — to improve.”

Even during a rocky 2024 campaign, the Lady Wildcats reached the Region 2-AAA tournament semifinals.

In 2025, the team’s goals remain ambitious, though grounded.

“I want to be competitive in every game, and we want to be playing our best volleyball in October,” Ellis said. “Our district is going to be more competitive this year, and we’re going to more tournaments to face stronger competition.”

Despite graduating several key players, Oak Ridge returns a seasoned core.

Top returners include seniors Maggie Williams (outside hitter), Christian McGinnis (middle blocker), Carla Zamora (middle blocker), and Shelby Yassu (right side). Other key players are juniors Camryn McGinnis (outside hitter), Da’Miracle Strickland (outside/right side hitter), and Ali Rickard (defensive specialist); sophomores Stephanie Kenworthy (defensive specialist), Caroline Laffoon (right side), and Vivian Sullivan (setter).

Newcomers expected to make an impact include freshmen Ella Hay (utility), Jo Nandagopal (setter), and Lindley Sullivan (setter).

Ellis said team depth and skill will be major assets.

“The depth is probably new, but we’ve always had skill,” she said. “This year, we have skill at every position.”

Team chemistry, however, remains a concern.

“We have to build team chemistry,” Ellis said. “Last year, we lost two key players at two key positions. We’ll need some players to step up.”

Ellis will be joined on the coaching staff by assistants Gracie Webb and Lily Yassu. Webb played at Anderson County, and Yassu — the older sister of senior player Shelby — played at Oak Ridge.

The Lady Wildcats open the 2025 season at Wildcat Arena against Berean Christian School on Monday, Aug. 18.