Women’s volleyball: Ohio State shifts from traditional team captains to a “leadership counsel”

Ohio State women’s volleyball no longer has a captain.

Instead, the Buckeyes have five leaders.

For the first time, Ohio State replaced its traditional team captains with a five-player leadership council, spreading responsibility among players with different levels of experience, personalities and roles on the team.

Seniors Mia Tuman and Hannah Jones, junior Bella Humphrey, and sophomores Na’vea Gauthier and Mia Stahler have been selected as the team’s leadership council for the 2026-27 season.

Head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg said part of the motivation behind the change was the pressure and workload that can come with placing the captain title on only one or two players. A council, she said, allows that responsibility to be shared while giving younger players a voice alongside veterans.

“There’s like a pressure attached to it, and I’ve always enjoyed that, but I feel like sometimes it’s too much of a load or burden for one or two players,” Oldenburg said.

Humphrey, who transferred from Auburn before the start of the season, said that being selected on the leadership council showed that leadership was not based simply on seniority.

“Being chosen right away just really gave me that confidence and showed me that these coaches really do see me,” Humphrey said. “No matter how long someone’s been here or not, we all play a valuable role to the team.”

At the end of the spring, players answer a series of questions identifying teammates who show different leadership qualities, including dependability, conflict resolution and a willingness to speak up.?

Oldenburg then uses those responses, along with her own evaluation, to make the final selections. She said the process is not intended to shut players out of leadership opportunities, but rather to identify those who have expressed a desire to take on a leadership role.

Members of the leadership council serve as a bridge between the players and coaching staff. The group checks in with coaches, but players said they are encouraged to work through smaller issues among themselves before taking them to Oldenburg.

That allows different members of the roster to approach the leader they feel most comfortable speaking with rather than funneling every concern through a single captain.

The leadership council provides the team with different leadership styles.

Tuman said her experience allows her to reinforce the expectations she has learned during her time in the program.

Tuman, who has played for Ohio State all four seasons, said as one of the team’s veterans, part of her leadership role is helping younger Buckeyes adjust to the expectations of the program.

“My role has just always been to lead by example and just give my voice,” Tuman said.

Humphrey said Oldenburg noticed her vocal strengths during some of her first practices as a Buckeye.

“I’ve always been told that I lead with my voice,” Humphrey said.?

Gauthier’s path to the council has been different.

Despite serving as a three-time captain in high school, Gauthier said she was much quieter then, and did not fully use the leadership traits that she now believes she has.

“I had the qualities in high school,” Gauthier said. “I just didn’t use them.”?

She said working with Ohio State’s players and coaches helped her become more comfortable voicing her opinion.

“I think I’m a very honest person, so I think that’s kind of the leadership that I bring, just super honest, and I’m not really gonna sugarcoat much.”Gauthier said.

However, having five opinions does not mean those opinions always match.

For Gauthier, disagreement is part of what separates a council from simply giving one player the final say.

“I don’t always agree with what’s said, but I respect what is said,” Gauthier said. “And then I’m like, ‘OK, maybe there’s something different here.”

For a roster filled with new faces, the Buckeyes are hoping that more voices can create a stronger bond amongst the team.