Darby Volleyball to Host Rival Bradley in Outdoor Stadium Match

Hilliard — What started as a bold idea from a group of Hilliard Darby seniors is about to make Ohio high school volleyball history.

On August 25, the Panthers will host rival Hilliard Bradley on a volleyball court built inside Darby’s football stadium, Head Coach Herb Sharfenaker confirmed. This event will mark the first known regular-season high school volleyball match in Ohio to be played in a football venue.

While schools like Newark Catholic have hosted outdoor scrimmages or preseason events, Darby’s move into the regular season sets a new precedent for the sport in the Buckeye State. It also is planned to be an event for the entire community of Hilliard to be apart of.

The game has been in the works since the end of last season and was already approved by the time Darby hired former Briggs head coach Herb Sharfenaker earlier this year. Sharfenaker learned about it during a casual conversation with athletic director Chris Ludban.

“I actually brought up the idea of doing something like this for Hilliard,” Sharfenaker said. “And Chris told me it was already taken care of. I told him that this is going to be epic.”

Inspiration for outdoor matchups has gained national momentum in recent years. Nebraska drew over 92,000 fans to Memorial Stadium for a volleyball match in 2023, a world record for a women’s sporting event, while Iowa followed with a women’s basketball game at Kinnick Stadium later that fall, drawing more than 55,000.

Coach Sharfenaker sees Darby’s version as a chance to connect at the local level. “This is a great way to bring the community into it and showcase our growing sport,” he said. “Volleyball is just growing leaps and bounds right now.”

Logistically, the match will be played on a sports court laid over a board positioned on the turf. A portable scorer’s table and scoreboard will be brought in, while the press box will serve as the PA booth, just as it does during football games. The entire setup will be installed and prepped the day before the match.

The match against Bradley will also serve as Senior Night for Darby’s volleyball program and the celebration will match the stage. Seniors will run out of a tunnel onto the field, just like on football Fridays, with the cheerleaders and marching band adding to the game-night atmosphere.

With the match set for a Monday night, the Darby community will get a sneak peek the day before. On Sunday, the program will host an open practice featuring the middle school team.

“The middle school team will come over and essentially have an open practice,” Sharfenaker said. “We’ll have food, the parents will come out and see the setup. It’s just going to be a nice kickoff event.”

This match won’t just be a first for Hilliard or the state of Ohio. The hope is that it becomes a tradition and a trendsetter. The district’s three high schools are already in discussions to purchase a permanent sports court that all programs could share, opening the door for Bradley and Davidson to host similar events in the future.

Of course, as with any outdoor event in Ohio, weather remains the biggest variable. “Predicting the weather is the hardest part,” Sharfenaker said. “It’s just like planning a softball or baseball game, you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature.”

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, a rain date has been scheduled for August 26, the following day. To align with OHSAA regulations and account for potential wind, an option will be in place for teams to switch sides during the match if conditions become a factor.

While volleyball teams stopped switching sides during matches following the COVID-19 pandemic, this adjustment ensures neither team has a lasting advantage due to wind or court positioning.

As Hilliard Darby prepares to host a first-of-its-kind match under the lights, the event represents more than just a game, it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and the growing reach of high school volleyball. The Panthers are setting the stage not just for a memorable night, but for a tradition that could shape the future of the sport in Ohio.