Chartiers Valley hopes deep roster leads to success

Tri-State Sports & News Service

Chartiers Valley is a team to watch in Class 3A as the high school girls season begins. The Colts have all but two players back from a squad that fell one win short of a playoff berth last season after posting a 5-7 record in Section 2.

“This is the most players I’ve ever had coming back,” said Chartiers Valley coach Jason Ferri, a 20-year coaching veteran. “It’s the most experienced team I’ve coached.”

Ferri may have his deepest squad, but the Colts are competing in the strongest ofthe four Class 3A sections.

“From top to bottom, we have the deepest section,” Ferri said. “On any given night, any team in this section can beat another. So you have to be ready for eachsection match.”

Chartiers Valley’s top tworeturnees are senior setter Ashlynn Gulakowski and senior outside hitter MaraHartoyo.

“Ashlynn is one of the best setters in the WPIAL in Class 3A,” Ferri said. “Mara is a four-year letterman and three-year starter. Ashlynn is a three-year starter.”

Chartiers Valley opens the season Saturday at the 10-team Canon-McMillan tournament. The Colts and Big Macs will be joined by Baldwin, Beaver, Beaver County Christian, Knoch, Moon, Quaker Valley, Serra Catholicand South Fayette.

Frazier still favored

Visit www.post-gazette.com for previews of field hockey and boys and girls cross country.

“Skye is the best player I’ve ever coached,” Hartman said. “She plays volleyball year round. She is really special.”

Coaching veterans

The dean of WPIAL girls volleyball coaches is back for a 34th season. JoAnn Harshman returns for her 33rd season at McGuffey. She also coached one season at Avella prior to taking the McGuffeyjob.

“They keep bringing me back,” Harshman said. “I still enjoy coaching. There aren’t too many of us who havecoached this long.”

Harshman is one of three current WPIAL coaches who have 30 years of head coaching experience. The others are Diane Geist and MikeMcDonald.

Diane Geist enters her 33rd season at Knoch, while McDonald begins his 31st season at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Geist is coming off the best season of her career, as the Knights won WPIAL and PIAA titles for the first time in school history.

Thomas Jefferson’s Ron Kelly becomes the fourth member of the 30-year head coaching club this season. Kelly begins his 20th year at Thomas Jefferson. He also coached 10 years at Ambridge.

Shaler cancels tourney