Though it's been nearly eight months since she was hired, Jaden Kem still has those surreal moments walking into Jenks Simmons Field House as El Reno High School's head volleyball coach.

“I was hired in January so I've had all the plans and getting ready for the season,” said Kem.

And now that season is here.

El Reno will open the 2026 season Tuesday night in Stillwater with a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades. Kem, who was an All-Stater for the Indians (2017) under her maiden name Kindsvater, coached the EHS freshman squad in 2023 and replaces Kristin Koehler as head coach.

“Now that it's here, I'm like, OK, we can actually start doing those things I've been planning. It's speeding by because the next week it will be four weeks since we started and where did the time go,” said Kem.

She admits it's been a learning curve for both coach and players.

“Some of them do remember when I became All-Stater and some of them don't and they still have yet to kind of get to know me. It's just been so chaotic,” said Kem.

Kem said her senior class knows her coaching style from that 2023 season and in turn she understands the caliber of players she has to work with for her inaugural season. It's the reason she's scheduled tougher teams such as Stillwater, Westmoore and Crossings Christian.

“We're all super excited for the first match. We still have a lot of growth that needs to happen, which will definitely come in time, especially as we play more teams. I made this year's schedule a little more difficult just because I know the caliber of players I have.

“I know how much they just need that competition, which will really help their growth, and hopefully help us peak at the very end,” said Kem.

In fact, Kem is not rebuilding a roster but rather pointing a stacked lineup in the direction of something she missed as a player – a ticket to state.

“We only lost one senior from last year so everyone else, this is their second and third year on varsity. We have a really good group coming back,” said Kem.

El Reno returns depth on both offense and defense including three players who earned All-Suburban Conference honors a year ago. Radley Miller was a first-team pick, followed by second-team honoree Brantlie Charmasson and Dailey Maples with honorable mention status.

Miller tied for the team lead in ace serves with 50 and closed the regular season serving at 90.4 percent. She added 38 kills on offense, while tying for third in assists with 104. Her defense produced one block and a team-high 347 digs. 

Charmasson was third on the team with 39 aces off a 93.4 percent serving average. She led El Reno’s offense with 143 kills in the regular season or a 5.1 per match average, while adding six assists. On defense, Charmasson logged 29 blocks, 10 of those solo, and added 29 digs.

Maples served at 87.6 percent, producing 29 aces. She added 15 kills and 170 assists for second on the team. Her defense off the net logged 154 digs for third.

Maples will be one of the key players in El Reno's two-setter system along with Deyana Cookson. Miller will be a key back-row player along with sophomore Jayda Richardson.

Kem added Richardson and Miller work well together.

“They're two very competitive athletic players and they just don't let a ball drop. They are two of the top-rated passers in Oklahoma and their passes are right where we want it almost every single time. They're probably our hardest workers,” said Kem.

El Reno went 19-14 last year and made the regional finals before exiting as the No.14 team in Class 5A.

Kem added defense will again be El Reno's calling card.

“We're not the most aggressive team when it comes to offense. Our defense is really going to make the other team have to work for points. Our defense is definitely the strongest point.

“They work so hard to get every ball up whether it's a foot, a hand or an arm. Something that can help keep the ball in the air until we get another teammate there. They are very scrappy and they know that defense wins championships,” said Kem.