By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
PETTISVILLE – Pettisville volleyball standout Naomi Richer had idolized former Lady Birds standout Morgan Leppelmeier hoping that someday she would join her in recording 1,000 career kills in program history.
Entering her senior season with 731 kills since her freshman year, the 5-7 outside hitter who was named the Buckeye Border Conference volleyball player of the year became just the second player in school history to accomplish the milestone against Delta on Monday, October 6.
“It was really special,” admitted Richer. “I’ve been looking forward to this since I was really little seeing Morgan Leppelmeier play when I was in fourth grade seeing her get the same achievement.”
Her head coach April Beck said that she (Richer) is one of the few kids to reach 1,000 kills at Pettisville.
“It’s really exciting to have her get this milestone,” said the Lady Birds coach. “I know that she’s been looking forward to it for a really long time. I’m really proud of her and really glad that she achieved that.”
Leppelmeier, who is currently the all-time career kills leader with 1,063 kills from 2015-2018, served as an inspiration for Richer throughout her outstanding volleyball career at Pettisville.
She (Leppelmeier) also holds the current regular season kills record, recording 444 kills during her senior year in 2018. “I always kind of just looked up to her (Leppelmeier) as an athlete,” said Richer.
Richer, who is a four-year volleyball letterwinner under head coach April Beck has been a huge factor in the Lady Birds overall success which includes a pair of Buckeye Border Conference titles (2024, 2025) and a combined overall record of 60-37 during the span.
She was also named team captain for the Lady Birds this season as they claimed a share of the BBC title with Stryker as both teams finished with 6-1 conference records.
Richer commented that volleyball is just where her ‘happy place’ is kind of what she likes to do in her free time is being with her teammates and playing alongside with her younger sister, Miriam Richer, who is a freshman on the team.
“It’s really special having one year to play together with her,” said Richer. “We’ve always played together and helping each other in getting better.” The senior standout credited her head coach for being influential in her volleyball success.
“Knowing her (Beck) for a while now and having her all the way through all four years, it has been really cool getting to know her better,” said Richer. “She has helped me to improve a lot in my game.”
As a freshman, Richer tallied 198 kills and earned second team all-BBC honors and being named District 7 honorable mention. She then recorded 253 kills as a sophomore and 280 kills in her junior year. She also achieved BBC and District 7 first team honors both her sophomore and junior years.
“I knew she had a lot of potential and an incredible athlete as a freshman,” said the Pettisville coach. “She was playing club volleyball at the time, and she just brought a lot of energy. A lot of her volleyball skills were very refined as a freshman. They have only grown stronger as she has gotten older and more mature.
“She’s definitely improved her leadership as a player and as a person on the court. The kids look up to her for sure.”
Beck commented that she’s become a great role model both on and off the court while getting the job done and with a really positive attitude.
“She always looking up and encouraging others,” commented Beck. “I think all players look up to her and her skills like I said have gotten super refined. She’s a very smart volleyball player with a high volleyball IQ.”
Entering the upcoming Division 7 tournament, Richer, despite overcoming a shoulder injury earlier this season, has already registered 306 kills, thus bringing her total to 1,037 career kills.
Should Pettisville make a deep run in the tournament, she needs 26 more kills to tie Leppelmeier’s career kills record.
Richer, who is the daughter of Chris and Julia Richer also participates in softball where she is a shortstop on the team. Her future plans are to attend college and continue her volleyball career but is currently undecided.
