Three teams have controlled the DODEA European girls volleyball scene the past two years.

Wiesbaden, Aviano and Ansbach each have back-to-back championships in Divisions I, II and III, respectively. And with the talent they have coming back, three-peats aren’t out of the realm of possibility.

Not that those titles will be handed to them.

Division I seems wide open, with Ramstein reloading, Kaiserslautern and Stuttgart resurging and other programs seemingly on the rise. In Division II, Black Forest Academy and Naples will be nipping at the Saints’ heels, and in Division III, upstart Brussels will seek to dethrone the Cougars after pushing them in the final last season.

All will be decided in the Kaiserslautern Military Community from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

Here’s a team-by-team look based off coaches’ responses:

Division I

Kaiserslautern

The Raiders are going to make things tough against the best in Europe this campaign, and coach Zac Robinson said their goal is to make the championship match.

Kaiserslautern will be leaning on a core group of returns to do so. Seniors Mariska Campbell at middle blocker and Marisa Branch as libero are back after earning all-star and all-DODEA European honors. The 5-foot-5 Branch made the first team, and the 6-0 Campbell was on the second team.

Also coming back are senior outside hitter Bianca Ocampo and juniors Kez Kai at opposite hitter and Roz Onnen at middle blocker.

Making the jump from JV to varsity are seniors Madison Ringer (right-side hitter), Jaiden Weaver (outside hitter) and Grace Walker (defensive specialist); and juniors Azha Evans (outside hitter) and Briana Shields (middle blocker/right-side hitter).

Perhaps the most crucial part to the team’s success this fall is the growth of a pair of freshmen setters. Robinson described Marlee Storch and Bella Flowers as talented, hard workers.

Ramstein

The Royals came up just a couple of points short of bringing home the European title last year.

The 2023 team had eight seniors, meaning coach Kandel Baxter’s program will be looking to rebuild this fall.

Thankfully, the rotator was kind, and with a few returners, 2024 could be more of a reload.

Senior libero Emma Inthavixay will play a crucial role. The 5-3 libero served 90% and recorded 22, while defensively, she led the team in service reception and made 83 digs.

Also returning is junior outside hitter Amaya Payton, who was 96% on serving and produced a 78% kill ratio on attackers.

Junior Isabella Johnson and senior setter/defensive specialist Ailyne Delanghe moved into the school. Among other newcomers are freshman outside hitter Noelle Murphy and middle hitters Ella Yost (sophomore) and Lauren Meusel (junior).

Stuttgart

The Panthers are bringing back half of the roster that placed fourth in the European tournament, and they will be looking to build off that performance.

Outside hitter Mia Snyder and her dangerous serving ability will be back after playing the European all-star matches. Fellow senior outside hitter Sarah Houghton is entering her fourth season as a Panther.

Senior opposite hitter Jaylee Brown and junior middle blocker Hannah Holmes are back from last year’s starting lineup, while seniors Taryn Lockhart (outside hitter/defensive specialist) and Isabella Stegemerten (middle blocker) have varsity experience.

Others expected to play a role are junior defensive specialist/libero Zoe Schneidt, sophomore middle blocker Peyton Manning and freshman outside hitter Brooklyn Biles.

SHAPE

Things are looking up for the Spartans in Kate Maxson’s second season in charge.

The SHAPE coach said even though the team is young with just two returning seniors in middle blocker Sofia Tryon and libero Lily Tjeltveit, the camaraderie and talent are evident.

Another senior, middle blocker Farrah Sheffey, and juniors Colie Meyer (defensive specialist) and Kira Muehlmann (outside hitter) round out the upperclassmen on the roster.

A quartet of sophomores are new this year with setter/right-side hitter, libero Dimitra Karpontini, middle blocker/outside hitter Emma Richards and middle blocker/right-side hitter Emma Heyden. Freshman defensive specialist Berta Fernandez Pujalte should get some time, too.

Vilseck

The Falcons struggled during the regular season in 2023, but a nice run in the tournament led to a fifth-place finish.

Vilseck coach Brian Swenty is hoping that form will carry over in 2024 and to a top-three finish.

Senior middle Emaline Overton and senior libero Jayslin Santellano are the two returners.

Senior outside hitter Bella Smith transferred in from SHAPE, and she is joined by fellow senior Alisia Andrew as Falcon rookies. Other newcomers are junior outside hitter Sophie Fedorisin and freshman middle/setter Hannah Wayland.

Wiesbaden

Coach Malia Taiafi-Husseini is back in charge after a season in which the Warriors had plenty of upheaval yet ended up defending the Division I title.

So much of that title-winning squad is gone, so it could be a rebuilding year.

Outside hitter Bridget Pidgeon played an integral role in the back-to-back championship seasons, and she will be counted upon during her senior season. Junior Bailey Faulk is expanding her role and showcasing her versatility by adding setting duties.

Sophomore Briahna Arroyo joined the team late last season is expected to be a key contributor this fall.

Junior Abigail Nirola is transitioning from the JV squad to varsity with her setting and defending skills. Transfers Kayla Mckee (sophomore) and Samantha Knieriem (junior) are expected to have an immediate impact.

Division II

American Overseas School of Rome

The Falcons always set the goal of at least making it to the semifinals in the KMC.

Returning for AOSR are setter Gloria Olivieri, middle blocker Gabby Makinwa and libero Ryhanna Rispoli. New to the team are attackers Alba Petrucci, Carolina Poddighe, Elisa Gaeta and others moving up from the JV squad.

Aviano

The Saints are blessed once again.

The two-time defending Division II winners bring back plenty of firepower, while they had key pieces transfer into Aviano.

The top of the veterans is Addison Krajicek. The middle hitter was named the tournament MVP and earned an all-star and first-team all-Europe nod.

Joining her is outside hitter Stella Beckwith Wolf, libero Nevarh Zamora, defensive specialist Sophia Scavo, outside/middle hitter Emma Foulsham, opposite hitting Angie Velez-Soto and middle hitter Jazmyn Warren.

Aviano picked up a boost with the transfer of setter Koda Roush. Sophomore Evey Stone (outside/middle hitter) and freshman Elena Young (outside hitter/defensive specialist) are also new.

Black Forest Academy

The Falcons struggled during the regular season, but they turned it up in the postseason with a runner-up trophy in the European championships.

Coach Kim McKell and her team are hoping to use that as a springboard.

Outside hitter Xofia Wood and Esther Lee are key pieces returning for BFA. New to the squad is opposite hitter Priscilla Sivonen.

Naples

The past two seasons, the Wildcats have stumbled at the semifinal stage of the championships after sitting near the top of the standings at the end of the regular season.

Under a new mentor in Zach Pierson, who coached the Naples boys team the past two years, the Wildcats will hope to take the next step and challenge Aviano for the title.

It helps that Naples has nine players back.

Seniors Mackinzi Dudley (middle blocker), Ariyana Pablo (defensive specialist/libero) and Anna Gose (middle blocker/opposite hitter); juniors Emma Heavey (setter/opposite hitter), Emma Garcia (outside hitter) and Chloe Williams (middle blocker); and sophomores Ari Lopez (defensive specialist/libero), Guilyana Pablo (outside/opposite hitter) and Claire Olsen return for another year.

Added to this roster this fall is senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Juliet Walker, junior setter/opposite hitter Emerson Shorey, and freshmen middle blocker Mia Randazzo, setter/opposite hitter Sophie Garcia and defensive specialist Carlyn Walker.

Rota

The Admirals were more competitive than their record showed in 2023.

Rota played three five-set matches – more times than they were swept in straight sets (two) – during the regular season and even pulled off an upset of Aviano in the regular season – one of just two losses all year for the Saints. The Spain-based squad pushed Naples on the first day of the tournament before finishing fifth.

And the Admirals are anticipating winning more than one of those close matches this fall.

Four starters – Jourdan Timmons, Allie DeMeritt, Amaya Petty and Kate Warkentein – and three others – Saira Ali, Mia Werner and Emma Montoya – played last year.

Division III

Alconbury

The Dragons enter the second year under coach Kelly Sandoval looking to take a step forward.

And Alconbury has plenty of options to deploy on the court. Returning are Kalila Te’o, Sofia Politis, Elizabeth Schroeder, Jamie Goenen, Maya Nachawati, Avery Monohan, Isabella Minjarez, Lana Reyes and Mireya Hernandez.

Joining the Dragons this fall are seniors Miranda Cowen, Richele Reyes and Aila Zentner; sophomores Miiyah Parker, Lillian Payton and Stephanie Sprouse; and freshman Marylou Tellez.

AFNORTH

Change is in the air for AFNORTH as Kelsey Fussner takes over the program.

She has plenty of returners, including two seniors in middle hitter Finja Schuebler and defensive specialist Mariachiara Capuozzo. The junior veterans are setter Blanca Diaz, outside hitter Clara Pacios and defensive specialists Lucy Stocker and Annabell Olmsted. Sophomore outside hitter Avery Sweeney also played last year.

Sophomores Jade Fullwood (middle hitter) and Lea Sheink (defensive specialist) and freshmen Olivia Shattack (setter) and Isabell Trosper will play a role.

Ansbach

The Cougars have lost just one match over the past two seasons as they have run roughshod over Division III competition.

While Ansbach lost four players from last year’s squad to graduation, the team still has the 2023 Stars and Stripes girls volleyball Athlete of the Year, Kennedy Lange. The 6-0 junior middle blocker has proven to be a force through her first two varsity seasons, and she was an all-star and first-team all-European selection.

The player tasked with setting up Lange and others is senior Natalie Ritter, who was named to the all-tournament team last fall. The other two returners are junior outside hitter Victoria Ortiz and sophomore defensive specialist Marga Marzan.

Junior Mya Henderson and three freshmen – Bailey Eickmeyer, Brighton Poell and Alyssia Hiapo – are new to the team.

Baumholder

A young Baumholder squad will be road warriors this fall.

Captains Olivia Lepkowski and Leai Vaisagote will lead the Buccaneers, who are under the tutelage of first-year coach Jenny Rajkovacz. The other two returners are Ashlyn Breck and Kayla Johnson.

New to the squad are Emma Davis, Alesia Delinois, Savannah Khadka, Elizabeth Short, Sara Ross, Leai Vaisagote, Brianna Whitmire and Marley Wilson.

Brussels

The Brigands have made great strides recently, going from a winless team to one that challenged Ansbach in the 2023 championship match within a two-year span.

Coach Courtney Slack and Brussels hope to replicate that success this fall – and maybe take it a step further.

To do so, the Brigands will turn to six returners, including three seniors – middle blocker Lucia Martinez, outside hitter Madeleine Hales and setter Nora Gibbons. Junior outside hitter Kathleen Rullan is the sister of last year’s lone senior, Patricia, while sophomores Sonia Desir (middle blocker) and Taegan Muller (setter) round out the veterans.

Hohenfels

Under new coach Jen Nicklas, the Tigers enter the season with plenty of reasons for optimism.

Five players from the 2023 varsity squad are back in Genesis Levinthol-Winkler, Brynn Ropelewski, Brooklyn Clark and Evelyn Chernock.

Added to that core are several transfers with experience, especially seniors Kariana Jones and Keaira Satchel.

Spangdahlem

The Sentinels have plenty of experience coming back to catapult up the Division III ranks.

Ten returners make up Daniel Williams’ squad. Spangdahlem will count on the play of Maxine Diaz, Zoe Figueroa, Miranda Valles, Brooklyn Shakir-Bacchus, Alyssa Farmakis, Alexis Lauer, Aniya Robinson, Sara Paulk, Taryn Byrd and Sophia Russell.

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