Led by Coach Kelly Zehnder, Meadowbrook has been a dominant force in area volleyball in the 2020s

By Jeff Harrison

  Since 2020, the Meadowbrook Lady Colts’ volleyball program has stood head and shoulders above the rest in the East District.

 Lead by Coach Kelly Zehnder – the “Queen of Byesville” – since 2009, Meadowbrook volleyball has simply been without an equal this decade.

 In the last five seasons (2020-2024), the Lady Colts have compiled an ultra-impressive record of 118-16. During that span, Meadowbrook has won sectional and district titles each season for five trips to the regional level – better known as the “Sweet Sixteen”. MHS has also been atop the Muskingum Valley League’s Small Division each year (sharing the title with New Lexington in 2023).

 Even more noteworthy, however, were the back-to-back trips to the OHSAA State Tournament “Final Four” at the Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University in Dayton. Although falling in the semifinal match both years (losing to Coldwater in 2022 and Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas in 2023), the Lady Colts reached a goal few teams are able to achieve once, let alone twice.

  The architect of the dominance which extends back well before the current run is Zehnder, who combines detailed knowledge of the sport, unmatched intensity from the bench and compassion off the court for each of her players. Not to mention there’s no bigger supporter of Colt athletics as she can be seen religiously rooting for the other MHS teams, particularly basketball where she may or may not have “her” seat at midcourt opposite the scorer’s table.

  “Coach Z” has amassed an impressive career record of 288-96, a 75 percent winning percentage – and that does not include the 2011-12 season when a 16-8 record was credited to assistant coach Jill Beskid who filled in the entire season while Zehnder was on maternity leave.

  This year, for her team’s continued success which also included a No. 5 ranking in the final OHSVCA State Poll, Zehnder was rewarded by being named OHSVCA Division IV State Coach of the Year, District 12 Division IV Coach of the Year and MVL Small Division Coach of the Year.

  Here’s a look at the last five seasons:

--2020 – 22-3; MVL Small Division champs; OHSAA D-II Sectional/District champs; lost in Regional Semifinal

--2021 – 24-2; MVL Small Division champs; OHSAA D-II Sectional/District champs; lost in Regional Semifinal

--2022 – 25-3; MVL Small Division champs; OHSAA D-III Sectional/District/Regional champs; lost in State Semifinals (to state runner-up Coldwater)

--2023 – 23-6; MVL Small Division co-champs; OHSAA D-III Sectional/District/Regional champs; lost in State Semifinals (to state runner-up Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas)

--2024 – 24-2; MVL Small Division champs; OHSAA D-IV Sectional/District champs; lost in Regional Semifinal