Blackhawk's Stangland signs with Freed-Hardeman volleyball

Senior Lily Stangland will continue her volleyball career at the NAIA school in Tennessee.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented volleyball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the dynamic action of the sport.A rising high school volleyball star signs with an NAIA program, continuing a pipeline of talent from one school to the next.Fort Wayne Today

Lily Stangland, a senior at Blackhawk Christian High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has signed to play volleyball at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee. Stangland led the Braves with 44 aces and 312 digs this past season, as the team finished with a 12-16 overall record.

Why it matters

Stangland's signing continues the pipeline of talent from Blackhawk Christian, a successful high school volleyball program, to the collegiate ranks. Freed-Hardeman, an NAIA school, is getting a talented player who can contribute immediately to their volleyball team.

The details

Stangland, a senior at Blackhawk Christian High School, signed her National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Freed-Hardeman University on Wednesday afternoon. Freed-Hardeman is an NAIA school located in Henderson, Tennessee. This past season, Stangland led the Braves with 44 aces and 312 digs, as the team finished with a 12-16 overall record.

  • Stangland signed her National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The 2025-26 high school volleyball season, in which Stangland led Blackhawk Christian, concluded earlier this year.

The players

Lily Stangland

A senior at Blackhawk Christian High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who led her team in aces and digs this past season.

Freed-Hardeman University

An NAIA school located in Henderson, Tennessee, where Stangland will continue her volleyball career.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to have Lily join our program. She's a talented player who will make an immediate impact for us.”

— Freed-Hardeman Volleyball Coach

What’s next

Stangland will begin her collegiate volleyball career at Freed-Hardeman University in the fall of 2026.

The takeaway

Blackhawk Christian High School continues to produce talented volleyball players who are able to continue their careers at the collegiate level, with Lily Stangland's signing with Freed-Hardeman University being the latest example.