Weber Girls’ Volleyball Setting the Pace for Success

Gabby Lyon, head girls’ volleyball coach at The Weber School, has been involved with the sport — both as a player and coach — for years and knows that records can be deceiving. Yes, the Rams are coming off a 7-16 regular season as they await postseason play this week. But the sub .500 mark belies the tremendous strides Lyon’s players have made in her Weber coaching tenure. Even if Weber doesn’t make much noise in the upcoming state tournament, the team’s nucleus of young dynamic players who have instilled a culture of cohesion and doggedness bodes well for a program that hopes to electrify the Eitan Force Athletic Complex for autumns to come.

That youthful core primarily consists of sophomore setter Anna Vaynshteyn (a two-year starter who serves as the team’s de facto floor general, averaging 15 assists and five aces per game), sophomore outside hitter Avana Saitowitz (a supremely athletic player who’s a force on both offense and defense, accounting for six kills and six digs per match), and junior libero Sisi Frank (the “heartbeat” of Weber’s defense who’s good for 13 digs per game), all of whom will be returning in 2026. Together, these three women, with their tone-setting competitiveness and leadership, sparkplugged a turnaround season for Weber, the apex of which was a 3-1 road win over powerhouse North Springs back in August.

But it’s not just the in-season contributions from the trio of standouts. It’s also the fact that all three have stayed dedicated to volleyball in the off-season by competing at a very high level away from Weber. Vaynshteyn plays at the national level with M2 Volleyball Club in Chamblee; Saitowitz, a three-sport athlete at Weber, has also had club experience at both M2 and Top Dog Volleyball Clubs in Atlanta; and Frank spent this past summer training and competing at the renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Clearly, both current and incoming Weber volleyball players have taken note of their passion for and year-round commitment to the sport.

“We’re seeing a strong wave of young talent coming in from The Davis Academy and The Epstein School, and that pipeline is going to make a big impact in the years to come,” noted Lyon, who’s wrapping up her third year at Weber after coming over from her alma mater, Science Hill High School in East Tennessee, where she coached both girls’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, and boys’ volleyball. “For the first time, we’ve had more club volleyball players in our program than ever before, which is a huge step forward in terms of experience, skill level, and competitiveness.

“The interest and passion for volleyball in our community are growing and with the right development and support, I truly believe we have players in our program who can compete at the next level.”

In her playing days, Lyon was a standout in volleyball, but her best sport was actually basketball. After graduating from Science Hill last decade, she went on to play four years of college hoops at Middle Tennessee State University where she scored more than 500 career points. Nevertheless, she always got immense pleasure out of volleyball and after being an assistant volleyball coach for a few years at Science Hill under the wing of Laura Cook and Wendy Ratliff, two coaches with multiple TSSAA State Championships and appearances, Lyon felt ready to make her volleyball head-coaching bones at Weber. Indeed, in the early 2020s, Science Hill was a top contender in Tennessee’s District 1-AAA, and Lyon learned how strategy and player development coalesced into a flourishing program.

We’re seeing a strong wave of young talent coming in from The Davis Academy and The Epstein School, and that pipeline is going to make a big impact in the years to come … For the first time, we’ve had more club volleyball players in our program than ever before, which is a huge step forward in terms of experience, skill level, and competitiveness.

“Bringing that experience to Weber has been a blessing,” Lyon told the AJT last week. “Each season, I’ve watched our program grow stronger and I’m proud of the direction we’re headed. I’m very excited about the future of girls’ volleyball at Weber. There’s so much potential here, and this past year has really shown what’s possible for our program.

“This is my third year coaching at Weber, and each year we’ve taken steps forward. Statistically, we’ve improved across the board, but what really stands out to me is the way this group has matured in how they play, how they handle adversity, and how they support one another.”

A season that Lyon describes as being full of “growth, challenges, and proud moments” will fittingly culminate in a postseason state tourney berth. Though the Rams may face a more seasoned opponent stacked with seniors, they are excited to showcase their potential for greatness on the season’s biggest stage in the coming days.

“No matter who it is, I know this team will show up ready to fight,” said Weber’s varsity girls’ volleyball coach. “They’ve worked hard, they’ve grown, and they’ve earned the chance to show what Weber volleyball is all about.

“There’s a lot to look forward to, and I’m proud to be a part of building something special here at Weber.”