What's Happening in Cougar Country

As the libero on the three-time state champion volleyball team, sophomore Lola Loncar (St. Gabriel) always wears a different-colored jersey than her teammates. 

The different uniform allows her to stand out to officials because of the special substitution rules for that position. 

As any volleyball fan around the area and state could attest, Loncar doesn’t need a special uniform to stand out. Her play does that on its own. And now it’s earned her a different uniform altogether – one that is red, white, and blue.

Back on September 11, while she was on the court for the Cougars’ match against Hoban, Loncar received an email letting her know that she had been selected as one of 17 players for the US Volleyball’s first-ever U17 Girls National Team. The roster was officially announced on September 26.

“I didn’t even know the emails were coming out, but I was just so excited when I opened it,” said Loncar, who was in the car with her dad, Marty (’92), when she finally checked her phone.

Now she’ll be off to participate in a training block from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Following the training, 12 athletes will be named to the final competition roster to represent the United States at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U17 Continental Championship, set for early November in Costa Rica (with the other five named as alternates). With a good showing there, the team could qualify for the 2026 World Championships.

“When I think about the opportunity, I get excited, but also a little nervous,” she said.

While she’s the only player from Ohio to be selected for the team, that’s nothing new for her. She’s the only girl from Ohio in her age group who’s been a part of the National Team Development Program (NTDP), but it’s an honor and recognition that is truly deserved. 

In this high school season alone, which isn’t over, Loncar has 28 aces, 49 assists, 307 serve receptions, and an astonishing 450 digs – which is around 6.6 per set and 22.5 per match.

“Those dig numbers are insane,” Lake Catholic head coach Tess Connolly Alcantara (’16) said. “Lola has skills beyond her time. She strives to be the best. And even with all those great stats, her best quality might be her mindset for her game, as well as the entire team. 

“I’m very proud of her and honored to be her coach. This invitation is well deserved, and I’m excited to see her play at that level.”

Despite missing about half of last year’s high school season because of a knee injury, she still received that invitation to her initial NTDP camp.

According to its website, the NTDP, which was launched by US Volleyball in 2021, is the official youth development program for the senior men’s and women’s national teams, with the mission of identifying and accelerating elite player development to ensure sustained competitive excellence on the international stage.

Loncar has been a part of the NTDP since last winter, when, after the Cougars' third straight state championship, she trained for five days in Colorado Springs. 

“When I started to get serious about volleyball, my goal was just to be invited to the NTDP, so when I got the invitation, I was just as shocked,” she said. “I never thought I’d get to the national team. But now when I go, it’s great to see all the same girls working on the same things the National Team does.”

After her trip in the winter, she participated in similar camps at the IMG Academy in Florida in the spring and in Cincinnati over the summer – where she was coincidentally coached by newly inducted Lake Catholic Athletic Hall of Famer Abby Detering (’14).

While playing for a high-level Junior Olympic (JO) club, Academy Volleyball Cleveland, and now taking part in three NTDP trainings, Loncar has played against and with some of the best players in the state and the country. Despite that, it hasn’t been lost on her how being a part of the Lake Catholic volleyball program has set her up for this success.

“We have one of the best programs in the state,” she said. “I’m surrounded by older players who have come up in this program. They know what it takes to be successful, and it trickles down to all of us. It’s such a great environment, and we just all push each other to be better.

“The stuff we do with Coach (Jimmy) King (’11) not only during our season, but all offseason is unmatched.”

It’s been a long journey — and it’s far from over. From a third-grader at St. Gabe’s to wearing the red, white, and blue, Loncar’s story is one of steady growth, big dreams, and a community that’s been behind her every step of the way. The next chapter begins in Colorado Springs.