Owen volleyball standout will play for Cleveland Community College

Gracyn Farish celebrates signing with the Yetis

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 6, 2026

Owen senior Gracyn Farish signs, March 4, with Cleveland Community College. Photo by Fred McCormick

Success on the court has been a constant for Gracyn Farish since she joined the varsity program at Owen High School as a freshman. While the senior ended her career with the Warlassies last fall, following the best season in the history of the team, a spring signing ceremony, March 4, celebrated her future in the sport.

Surrounded by family, friends, teammates and a slew of supportive coaches, the right side and middle hitter signed to continue her playing career at Cleveland Community College.

Farish played 72 sets for Owen in the 2025 season, recording 62 kills, 38 blocks, 37 aces and 13 assists, as the team won 20 games and sweeping the Western Highlands Conference for the program’s first conference title since 2011. She was a consistent force at the net, often alongside her cousin, Adeline West.

Farish, who posted career highs in nearly every statistical category in 2025, characterized the campaign as a key moment in her athletic career.

“I think it was one of the most fun times in my life, honestly,” she said. “I got to have all these amazing moments with some of my best friends and my cousin, which was so much fun. It was a pretty unforgettable experience.”

Motivated to continue playing the sport she began playing at fifth grader, Farish reached out to the CCC volleyball program, launched by the Shelby school in 2023. Former Region 10 Coach of the Year Jamie Wilson, who has led the Yetis since their inaugural season, was impressed by what she learned about the high school player.

“She is an excellent student, but she is also an excellent player and teammate,” Wilson said. “So many coaches vouched for her, and the more I talked to her on the phone, I could really see how sweet she is. Her love of the game really came through.”

Those traits have come to define Farish throughout her career in maroon and white, according to Owen head coach Nikki Hinson.

Gracyn Farish is joined by her teammates, March 4, during a signing ceremony at Owen High School. The former Warlassies right side and outside hitter will continue her playing career at Cleveland Community College. Photo by Fred McCormick

“One of my favorite things about her is that even if we were behind, she always had this routine where when she came out of the game, she would run down and slap hands with everybody on the bench,” Hinson said. “It just cut through the tension and lightened everything for all of us. Her bubbly personality really helped calm our whole team in so many situations.”

While her uplifting demeanor helped boost team morale, Farish’s development on the court played a key role in Owen’s ability to bounce back from a 9-6 mark in the Helene-shortened 2024 season.

“Her growth as a player, especially over the past year, has been amazing to witness and be a part of,” Hinson said. “Her strength, hitting and all-around play improved so much.”

Farish, who also competes for the Xcel Volleyball Performance program, began her journey in the sport when she began playing it competitively in the fifth grade.

“I was playing travel softball at the time, and my teammates joined a volleyball team, so I tried it with them,” she said. “I kept playing and loved it, which is a big part of why I decided to look for an opportunity to keep playing beyond high school.”

The CCC program will add a “phenomenal person” and hard-working player to its roster next fall, according to the Owen coach.

Gracyn Farish posted career highs in nearly every statistical category for Owen last season, when the Warlassies completed the best campaign in the program’s history. Photo by Fred McCormick

“She is an outstanding team player, and academically she does extremely well,” Hinson said. “They are very fortunate to have such a well-rounded athlete, who is also just a great human being. Her work ethic, drive and the way she treats people will be an example for everyone around her.”

On the court, the Yetis will rely on Farish to elevate the play of her teammates while continuing her development as a player.

“We want her to come in and push us at the right side and compete,” the CCC coach said. “I’m really interested to see how she grows as a player, student and person over the next couple of years. She will have the opportunity to continue developing, so I’m always fascinated by the difference in our players between when they arrive and when they leave.”

Farish is eager to continue her volleyball career at the collegiate level.

“I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates and making new friends,” she said. “I’m also excited to get a chance to keep playing the sport I’ve been playing most of my life.”

While it felt “great” to celebrate the moment with a room full of supporters, according to Farish, the ceremony served as an opportunity to reflect on her accomplishments on the volleyball court.

“It’s just becoming real for me, like this actually happening and playing college volleyball isn’t just some fantasy world,” she said. “I’m so happy that I can continue to play; I really do love this game.”