Alex Wemyss has spent the last six years building a resume that most high school players only dream of. The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake outside hitter was called up to varsity as an eighth grader, and she won a Class A state title in 2023. Since then, she has racked up 750 kills and 502 digs heading into her junior year.
Now she is leading a team that wants to go further. The Spartans dropped two Suburban Council matches last year for the first time in nearly four decades, but they still claimed a league division title, won a 23rd consecutive sectional championship and reached their 23rd straight state final four. Wemyss and her teammates want to break through this season.
The Road From Eighth Grade
Wemyss got her first taste of varsity volleyball when she was called up as an eighth grader. She joined the team for the Spartans’ playoff run, which ended with the 2023 Class A state title.
“I am so happy I got the opportunity to play that year on varsity,” Wemyss said. “I learned so much from my teammates that year, especially from the outsides. They were just amazing. They taught me so much about sportsmanship, being a good teammate and having the proper attitude on and off the court.”
That experience paid dividends in her development, according to veteran BH-BL head coach Gary Bynon.
“She got that opportunity to see the state final and everything that goes with that,” Bynon said. “Now, you have a kid that entered her junior year with 750 kills and 502 digs. That is pretty strong all-around (production). She has worked on getting better at things, better at her serve and so many other aspects of the game.”
A Leader With Numbers To Back It Up
Wemyss has grown from a standout eighth grader into a strong leader for the 2026 squad. She is quick to credit others for helping her improve.
“The support of everyone around me has helped me improve so much,” she said. “We all worked so hard individually and as a team over the summer.”
At 5-foot-9, Wemyss does more than just end points with kills. She is adept at receiving serves and keeping points alive with her digs.
“Alex is not afraid to try new things,” Bynon said. “She keeps getting stronger and flies through the air. We are able to do things offensively because of her experience and the work that she puts in. Her vertical jump has increased and her ability with the blocks helps us so much. We get things done through her work.”
The 2025 Season’s Ups And Downs
Last year was a mixed bag for the Spartans. They dropped two Suburban Council matches, which hadn’t happened in nearly four decades. But they still claimed a league division title, won a 23rd consecutive sectional championship and reached their 23rd straight state final four.
The team’s determination to regain their usual position atop the Suburban Council standings is clear. Wemyss and her teammates are focused on beating the teams they lost to last year, including Shenendehowa and Bethlehem, and continuing their sectional title streak.
“We lost a couple of big matches at the end (against Shenendehowa and Bethlehem),” Wemyss said. “I think it is driving us this year to not only beat the teams we lost to last year, but to also keep winning and keep our (sectional title) streak going. Last year, some people thought we were falling apart. I think this year, we need to focus on staying together.”
Tuesday’s Win Over Averill Park
On Tuesday night, BH-BL claimed its second Suburban Council win of the season with a 3-0 decision over Averill Park. The Spartans won the match by scores of 25-8, 25-10 and 25-16. Wemyss produced 10 kills, seven digs and three aces in the victory.
“She does so many different things out there, and she is just so smart,” Bynon said of Wemyss. “You can see her natural instincts for the ball. She’s had them since she was a young player.
“She is someone you have to watch. When she leaves the back row, she is one of the best servers we have. Alex is an all-around great player and our leader. She has responded to doing everything we need her to do. I am proud of her for the amount of time she has put into this in the gym and how much better she has gotten over the last few years.”
The Club Trio And The Move Up In Class
The trio of senior libero Audri Chamberlain, junior setter Leah Vaughan and Wemyss are the team’s unquestioned leaders and most experienced players. Chamberlain registered her 1,000th career dig last week.
“That trio also played together on Bynon’s club team during the offseason and enjoyed tremendous success,” Bynon said.
The Spartans have moved up from Class A to Class AA for this season, making the win over Columbia more significant. Columbia claimed the AA championship last year.
“I was so proud, and so proud of the younger players. Our Columbia win was a big one,” Wemyss said. “It will be a lot harder being in a larger class. We are going to be competing against bigger schools. Our team is young, but I think we will be ready for it. People are stepping up this year. It is really exciting.”
Two Matches, Two Wins
| Match | Score | Team Wemyss Paced |
|---|---|---|
| Averill Park | 3-0 | 10 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces |
| Columbia | 3-1 | 25 kills |
Wemyss is ready for the challenge.
“I really like to compete and I like to win, obviously,” she said. “I like to be out there with my teammates. I think we are a competitive team, all of us, and we are striving to win this year. I really think we can go far.”
The Spartans are chasing big goals this season. They want to regain their usual position atop the Suburban Council standings, capture another sectional title and pursue the program’s 10th state championship. Wemyss has already shown she can lead a championship run — now she wants to do it again.
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