Photo by: Ohio State Athletics
Get to Know the Newest Buckeyes: Freshmen
4/2/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Buckeyes welcome two freshmen to the roster this spring.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women's volleyball team welcomes two freshmen to its ranks for the spring season after the pair enrolled early. Both freshmen are from the greater Columbus area.
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Layla Hoying is an outside hitter from Plain City, Ohio and attended high school at Bishop Watterson. The Bishop Watterson all-time career kills leader also earned all-league honors all four years and all-state honors three years. Hoying led her high school squad to a pair of Final Four runs. During her six years playing club at Mintonette, she led her team to two AAU National Championships as well as a 14 Open USA Volleyball National Championship. Hoying is a three-time AAU All-American, two-time AAU All-Tournament team member and was named team MVP in 2023.
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"I chose to come to Ohio State because I was born and raised in Columbus. I was always able to come to games whenever possible and I always had a good relationship with the coaching staff and with the teams every year. Every single year I wanted to be a Buckeye. Both of my parents and a lot of my aunts and uncles were able to attend Ohio State, so I wanted to be able to continue that legacy and live out my dream."
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Alia Schoonover is a middle blocker/outsider hitter from Delaware, Ohio. She attended Buckeye Valley High School, where she lettered for four years as a six-rotation outside hitter. The four-time offensive player of the year was also named All-Ohio Third Team and Team MVP. She served as team captain and led Buckeye Valley to the state championship match her senior season. Schoonover also lettered in track & field her senior year, competing in the 4x100m relay and high jump. During her eight years playing club at Mintonette, she led her team to two AAU National Championships as well as a 14 Open USA Volleyball National Championship.
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"This has been my dream school since I was growing up and it always felt like home. I felt so comfortable since the day I stepped foot on campus."
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Season tickets are scheduled to go on sale soon. For ticketing information and any questions, please contact the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office by calling 1-(800)-GO-BUCKS or by emailing athletic.tix@osu.edu. Representatives are available via phone Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET. Â
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Layla Hoying is an outside hitter from Plain City, Ohio and attended high school at Bishop Watterson. The Bishop Watterson all-time career kills leader also earned all-league honors all four years and all-state honors three years. Hoying led her high school squad to a pair of Final Four runs. During her six years playing club at Mintonette, she led her team to two AAU National Championships as well as a 14 Open USA Volleyball National Championship. Hoying is a three-time AAU All-American, two-time AAU All-Tournament team member and was named team MVP in 2023.
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"I chose to come to Ohio State because I was born and raised in Columbus. I was always able to come to games whenever possible and I always had a good relationship with the coaching staff and with the teams every year. Every single year I wanted to be a Buckeye. Both of my parents and a lot of my aunts and uncles were able to attend Ohio State, so I wanted to be able to continue that legacy and live out my dream."
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Alia Schoonover is a middle blocker/outsider hitter from Delaware, Ohio. She attended Buckeye Valley High School, where she lettered for four years as a six-rotation outside hitter. The four-time offensive player of the year was also named All-Ohio Third Team and Team MVP. She served as team captain and led Buckeye Valley to the state championship match her senior season. Schoonover also lettered in track & field her senior year, competing in the 4x100m relay and high jump. During her eight years playing club at Mintonette, she led her team to two AAU National Championships as well as a 14 Open USA Volleyball National Championship.
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"This has been my dream school since I was growing up and it always felt like home. I felt so comfortable since the day I stepped foot on campus."
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Season tickets are scheduled to go on sale soon. For ticketing information and any questions, please contact the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office by calling 1-(800)-GO-BUCKS or by emailing athletic.tix@osu.edu. Representatives are available via phone Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET. Â
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