MIDDLEBURG – Middleburg High volleyball coach Meredith Forkum does not talk about dynasty and win streaks, despite being the defending Class 5A champions in her first season, but her coy smile may hide a giddiness that comes with the firepower that her 2024 Broncos volleyball team will have as area teams get through tryouts and final team selections in mid-August.

“Of course, with an all-state player like Connor Rahn graduating and heading to college, we have to replace some key players from last year’s team,” said Forkum, who also cited Kendyl Wahl, a back defender, and Emma Brugh, a setter, as two more seniors graduated.

“We have Connor’s sister coming back, Camden, who is almost a carbon copy player, plus my daughter, Brooke, and my twins; Kate and Ally Lowery, all going to be a tough front four at the net.”

Probably one of the more excitable players for Forkum will be senior Olivia Callipo who was a catalyst for game-changing moments and reactions that jolted the Broncos faithful.

“She is our spark plug,” said Forkum. “Over the three years she has been here, she has taken the team as hers to inspire and she had done that just about every game. Other girls get the headlines, but she comes to plays with energy every game.”

Brooke Forkum, a senior, was the left-handed flamethrower opposite of Rahn with 373 kills on her side while Camden Rahn, in the second half of the season, getting more hits as opposing teams started to realize Connor was the focal point of the Bronco's attack.

Camden Rahn finished the second half of her season with kill totals of 14 vs. Chiles, 11 vs. Arnold, nine vs. Lincoln, seven vs. Merrit Island and 10 in the state final against Barron Collier.

“She stepped up to take the pressure off Connor, but when she and Brooke were blasting shots, coaches left Connor alone and she was just waiting to bring her game into it,” said Forkum.

“It was strategic to watch as it unfolded because Camden was explosive when she got her shot and that got the team even more fired up.” Forkum felt the team understood the 2024 version of Middleburg volleyball brings with it some “get-back” from teams wanting to knock off the state champions.

“We kind of know we have that big target on our back, but my coaches keep emphasizing, just do what we do,” said Forkum, who had her cadre of assistants; Kory Cobb, Tony Valentin, Keith Bradley and even grads Kasey Valentin and Connor Rahn were on hand in week one with another super player,

Mallory Roney, joining the staff as head junior varsity coach. “We have tweaked the process a bit mainly because our conditioning has improved and that will be a big advantage.”

Forkum noted a win in the recent camp at the University of Florida showed some quality play early in the summer season.

“We play at the Bishop Kenny Preseason tournament (August 17) which is always with tough teams,” said Forkum. “Then we open with Providence here.

Our schedule will always be tough; Chiles twice, the Nike Tournament in Gainesville, and Trinity Christian Academy here. Trinity was a tough game last year.”