During his time at Hempfield Area, Owen Kelley was a vital contributor to three boys volleyball playoff teams, including the 2022 squad that won a section title. Now as a sophomore at Geneva College, he’s helping the Golden Tornadoes transition to a new conference. Kelley is under the microscope in this edition of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

Kelley’s freshman volleyball campaign was erased due to COVID in 2020, but in his sophomore season, the Spartans went 8-2 in section play, qualifying for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. In the postseason, Hempfield defeated Bethel Park and Butler Area before falling to North Allegheny in the semifinals. The Spartans also lost to Penn-Trafford in the consolation round for a spot in the state bracket.

In 2022, Hempfield Area went 14-2 overall, including 11-1 in the section, winning a share of the title. In the WPIAL Class 3A postseason, the Spartans again defeated Bethel Park, but came up short against Penn-Trafford in the quarterfinals.

As a senior in 2023, Kelley emerged as a First-Team All-Section performer. His play helped guide the Spartans to a record of 12-6, including 7-3 in the section. In the Class 3A playoffs, the Spartans lost to Upper St. Clair in the first round to conclude the campaign.

Following his graduation, Kelley matriculated to Geneva College, joining the team as an outside hitter for the 2024 campaign. He appeared in all 33 matches, posting 325 kills, 27 assists, 36 service aces, 196 digs, and 43 blocks. For his efforts, Kelley was honored as the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Newcomer of the Year, as well as Third-Team All-AMCC. Collectively, the Golden Tornadoes went 17-16, including 5-4 in the AMCC. In the conference tournament, Geneva fell to Thiel College.

This season, Kelley has participated in all 19 matches, registering 216 kills, 30 aces, 104 digs, and 16 blocks. Geneva has amassed a mark of 8-11 overall, including 3-4 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), which is sponsoring men’s volleyball for the first time this year.

Owen set aside time from his schedule to answer questions about the differences between the high school and college game, his fondest high school memory at Hempfield Area, and the best advice he ever received.

Q: You set a record for kills by a freshman at Geneva last year. What allowed you to be successful in that aspect?

A: Working hard together as a team, developing good chemistry with my setter, and having other good hitters on the team, which allowed for a balanced offense

Q: What were the biggest adjustments from high school to the college game?

A: The level of play is significantly higher. The biggest challenge for me is facing a consistently taller block. I’m an undersized hitter to begin with, so learning to hit around people who are sometimes six or seven inches taller than me is something I’m still working at improving.

Q: How have you evaluated your play thus far this season?

A: I think I have been playing well. I was in a bit of a slump earlier in the season, but myself and the offense as a whole is really starting to find its groove as we enter conference play.

Q: What team and individual objectives did you establish for 2025?

A: The ultimate goal is always going to be winning the conference, but to start, I really want to get a playoff win this year. We were a playoff team last year but lost 3-1 to Thiel in the first round, so I’d really like to get a playoff win under my belt.

Q: What differences, if any, have you noticed between the AMCC and the PAC?

A: The one noticeable thing is just the fact that we play every team twice in PAC play, while it was only once in the AMCC. Otherwise, it feels very similar. Many of the teams are the same, I still recognize almost everyone, and the competition is tight every game. We’ve even played past AMCC opponents this year like Penn State Behrend, Hilbert, and Penn State Altoona, so this season has felt very similar to the last so far.

Q: You have been recognized for your vertical leap. What has been key to developing your jumping ability?

A: I have done some strength and weight training to help, but it is primarily just genetic and something that I have always been able to do

Q: What led to your decision to attend Geneva?

A: When I was a high school junior, the coach at the time reached out, inviting me to go watch a match and meet him and the team. That summer, I toured the campus and knew that was a great fit for me. Geneva had pretty much everything I want - a Christian school with a smaller campus, a strong engineering program, and I wanted to play volleyball.

Q: What is your major, and ideal future profession?

A: Mechanical engineering - I would like to be an engineer.

Q: What has been your most enjoyable college course?

A: Solid mechanics.

Q: What was your fondest high school memory at Hempfield Area?

A: Beating Norwin on the road to basically clinch the section championship my junior year. This came the year after losing the section championship by getting reverse swept at Norwin in the last game of the season. The win my junior year was not just a good victory, but it was also revenge for me and my teammates.

Q: Who was the best player you faced in high school?

A: The best player I faced in high school was actually a teammate of mine at Hempfield, Will Kuhns. He was a senior when I was a freshman, and I have always looked up to him and admired his abilities. He is currently a starter at Penn State and leads their team in kills.

Q: Do you have any superstitions or rituals before, during, or after a match?

A: Not really. I just kind of go out and play and try not to overthink anything.

Q: To which movie or TV show can you recite nearly every line?

A: The Wizard of Oz.

Q: What is the best advice you've ever received?

A: When I was younger, I had a soccer coach who helped distract me from being too hard on myself when I made a mistake by always asking me, “What did you eat for breakfast this morning?” Just a simple question like this forced me to think about something other than the mistake I just made, allowing me to forget it, move on, and get back in the game.