The Stratford Spartans have been on a heater. Two seasons ago, Stratford reached the UIL 6A Division II state title match, squaring off against Byron Nelson. Last fall, the Spartans followed that up with another deep postseason push, advancing to the Regional Finals and finishing 26-16 overall.
Stratford will have some holes to fill following the graduation of Audrey Cook (Grand Canyon) and Gwen Koss (Providence), two cornerstone players who helped fuel the program’s recent success.
Headlining the next wave will be reigning District Blocker of the Year Milena Miladinovic, a senior Winthrop commit expected to serve as the centerpiece of Stratford’s lineup. Coach Jenny Adcock believes the keys to the season will be strong ball control, an effective middle attack, and tough serving.
First-team all-district selections Emmaline Glazner (Jr. MB/RS) and Sydney Hatcher (Jr. OH), along with second-teamer Lauren Gioco (Sr. L/DS), are proven contributors who now take on expanded responsibilities, while Amiyah Foreman-Shaw could emerge as a breakout presence capable of surprising opponents.
“I think that we are really locked in to prove ourselves this season,” Adcock said. “We graduated a couple of very high-level players, and our 2026 group really wants to make their personal mark on Stratford volleyball.”
The championship-level culture is already in place, so don’t expect the Spartans to take a step back anytime soon.
