The Falcons enter the 2025 season with district championship expectations following a remarkable resurgence. After not posting a winning season for a decade, Saint Stephen’s opened the 2024 campaign 8-0 and finished 12-4, reaching the district tournament title match. With a strong core roster returning – and some promising newcomers – the Falcons will be competing for their first district trophy since 2012.

Much of the reason for that confidence comes thanks to second-year Head Coach Frank Casaine, who has instilled a winning attitude and installed a proven system. Casaine, a native of Puerto Rico and a graduate of LeMoyne College where he played collegiate volleyball, came to Saint Stephen’s from Braden River High School. He helped that program win three district championships. Casaine’s 2025 squad will lean on the experience of senior Sophia Ierulli, who was named to the Class 2A All-State team last season, and her younger sister Olivia. The sophomore is the team’s top returning attacker after producing 116 kills a season ago.

Among the successful SSES volleyball alumni, Sarah Stevens leads the way. The 2020 graduate became the program’s first-ever Division I player when she signed with Xavier University in 2022 after a stellar career at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa. Stevens played in 43 matches at HCC and totaled 128 kills, 94 total blocks and 27 digs. She redshirted during her first season at Xavier, but played in 58 matches from 2023-24. Stevens accumulated 325 kills and 151 total blocks in her two years with the Musketeers. She will play at the University of Alabama as a transfer in 2025.

Tori Biach, who starred at Division II Northern State in South Dakota, was a four-year starter and a stalwart on her Saint Stephen’s teams. She was a three-time team MVP and all-county selection at SSES in 2011 and 2012. Her career totals include 1,038 kills, 174 blocks and 162 aces. At NSU, Biach started more than 100 matches over four seasons and was an all-conference selection in 2013.