Teams adjust to playing as indoor sport
Girls volleyball navigates being an indoor sport during COVID-19
Creativity has always been important in volleyball. This season, it has also been essential to just getting on the court.
With girls volleyball one of two indoor fall sports competing during the COVID-19 pandemic, area teams are navigating the new normal of temperature checks, masks and sanitization while also adhering to 25-person gym capacity limits. So innovation to maintain health and performance has been key.
“Practice times, how many a day, who can make it, when can they make it, what positions do those athletes play who are attending said session and how do we make that work. Creativity at it’s finest,” said Mount Saint Joseph coach Amy Bergin in an email. “A coaching friend of mine said she might be mentally burned out by the time season even starts! But we are playing. That’s all that matters right now.”
Mount and the rest of the A ACA have a later start (first matches are set for Oct. 12) but is one of the few leagues in Southeastern Pa. opting to play in 2020. The Suburban One League — which goes from two to three conferences — has 19 of its 21 volleyball teams playing and opens with game on Monday, Sept. 21
The Bicentennial Athletic League, which includes Dock, has three squads in action while the Pioneer Athletic Conference has six.
“This year has required a lot of flexibility,” said Hatboro-Horsham coach Jon Young in an email. “We are thankful to have an administration and school board that has supported us in playing this fall and have happily complied with
all of the protocols including but not limited to social distancing, masks, and gym capacity. We will continue to do so in keeping everyone as safe as possible as we continue to grow in and enjoy this sport we all love.”
Hatboro-Horsham looks to capture a third straight American title, winning the outright crown last year after splitting it with Plymouth Whitemarsh in 2018. Dave Stewart is now at the helm of the PW, having lead the Colonials program from 1994-2008. The American also features District 1-4A qualifier Upper Dublin and league newcomer New Hope-Solebury, which finished second in District 1-2A last year.
The SOL Continental features four sides that reached districts last season — Pennridge (which took second behind HH in the SOL American) Central Bucks West, Central Bucks East and Central Bucks South. Souderton is out to improve following a 10-10 campaign in 2019.
Abington
Coach: Dan Marsh (ninth season).
League: Suburban One League American Conference.
Last Season: 8-11 (8-10 SOL American). Key Losses: Sarah Tuffy. Top Returners: Liv Guare (Sr., MH), Ally Rice (Sr., OH), Izzy Reilly (Jr., S), Kenya Lucas (So., OH). Others to Watch: Sofi Stonehouse (Sr., DS), Lila Stonehouse (Jr., OH), Sophia Ermigotti (Jr., DS/H), Sarah Boykin (Jr., MH), Emilie Zucatto (Jr., RS), Iris Winegard (Fr., L)
Season Outlook: Reilly returns at setter after earning all-conference second team honors at the position last year while Lucas was honorable mention at outside hitter as a freshman. “Abington returns a lot from last year’s team and will look to compete in every match,” Marsh said. “Covid has been difficult to navigate but we have been safe and are very much looking forward to competing in the SOL.”
Central Bucks West
Coach: Todd Miller (10th season).
League: SOL Continental Conference.
Last Season: 13-10 (11-7 SOL National), lost to Downingtown West in District 1-4A first round.
Key Losses: Ana Claricurzio, Maggie Winderman, Naomi Woo.
Top Returners: Jada Reichwein (Sr.), Maggie McCusker (Sr.), Jordyn Klemetovich (Sr.), Magda Videva (Sr.). Others to Watch: Brie Livezy (Sr.), Alexis Barklage (Fr.). Outlook: Reichwein is back after making SOL National honorable mention at outside hitter in 2019 to help the Bucks battle to be at the top of the Continental. “We will be undersized and young and have to fight for every point this year,” Miller said. “But we are just glad to be playing a season this year. The league should be pretty competitive this year, and we are looking forward to playing some familiar teams from past years.”
Dock Mennonite
Coach: Taylor McKenney (second season).
League: Bicentennial Athletic League.
Last Season: 5-9 (5-5 league), lost to St. Basil in District 1-2A semifinals.
Key Players Lost: Cailey Ridge, Alison Keach, Rebecca Brown, Jess Crissman. Top Returners: Olivia Mercure (Sr., S), Melissa Moyer (Jr., Middle), Ashlann Gerber (Jr., Outside), Devon Ridge (Jr., L). Others to Watch: Elyssa Bochnowicz (Sr., Outside), Taylor Drummond (Sr., DS), Maddy Lewis (Jr., Opposite). Outlook: “Overall this team has a strong bond between players and a high level of play,” McKenney said. “We are going to be a strong defensive minded team by being scrappy and winning the longer volleys. Losing some of the front row players we will work extremely hard to provide a tough, aggressive offense. “With the COVID-19 restrictions and teams dropping out this season our league will be very small (three teams including Dock). Although there will be no league championships this year, the girls will battle for bragging rights.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh
Coach: David Stewart (first season, coached PW 1994-2008).
League: SOL American Conference. Last Season: 14-7 (14-5 SOL American), lost to Strath Haven in District 1-4A first round. Key Losses: Bree Middleton, Tyler Waite, Abby Sharpe. Top Returners: Aja Smith (Sr., OH), Jordan O’Brien (Sr., M/OH), Sophia Repholz (Jr., L). Others to Watch: Neve Straff (So., OH), Rylie Watton (So., S), Adriana Storti (So., OH/M), Caroline Melillo (Jr., RS/OH). Outlook: Stewart, back on the Colonials sideline after 12 years, has a team with depth but has to overtime its size at the net. Both Smith and Repholz were all-conference first team picks last season while Watton earned honorable mention. “PW looks to challenge for the SOL American Conference Championship,” Stewart said. “The team motto has been ‘Strong Alone, Together Unstoppable’ and we hope to be unstoppable especially this season with all of the challenges. We are just happy to be able to play and we wish for the safety of all players, coaches, and officials in the SOL this season.”
Hatboro-Horsham
Coach: Jon Young (sixth season).
League: SOL American Conference.
Last Season: 20-3 (17-1 SOL American), SOL American outright champ, lost to Council Rock North in District 1-4A fifth place semifinals. Key Losses: Cam Wild (OH), Rice Westcott (MB, Hampton), Jule Gibbons (OPP), MK Scully (OH), Kayla Dougherty (OH), Chris Noble (OPP). Top Returners: Maddy Murphy (Sr., S), Jess Howard (Sr., Def.), Jenna Robinson (Sr., D), Angie Ravi (Sr., D), Sarah Lessig (Sr., D), Grace Howard (Jr., S/Opp.), Maci Lumpkin (Jr.,OH/D). Others to Watch: Jenna Reilly (Sr., S), Nastya Tsetsko (Jr., OH/ MB), Izzy Bombas (Jr., MB), Ava Santo (Jr., OH), Abigail Kosmalski (Jr., D), Kayla Jones (So., OH/ OPP). Outlook: Six seniors – including all-state outside hitter Wild – graduated from last year’s district quarterfinalist but don’t plan on rebuilding. The Hatters return their core setting and defensive unit and with a young, talented attacking group are aiming for a third straight conference crown. Howard was an all-conference first team selection at libero last season while Murphy (setter) and Jenna Robinson (defensive specialist) earned honorable mention. The attackers are young but talented “As always, HH Looks to compete in the conference and district+ level in the 2020 season,” Young said. “Despite all of the challenges we are all incurring daily and are beyond thankful to do what they love in playing volleyball with people they love to do so with.”
Mount Saint Joseph
Coach: Amy Bergin (fourth season).
League: AACA. Last Season: 16-6 (12-2 league), lost to Pope John Paul II in District 1-3A semifinals.
Key Losses: Shannon Reilly (S), Maggie Fitzpatrick (DS), Olivia Nace (OH).
Top Returners: Olivia Esposito (Jr., MH), Vivianna Carrasco (Sr., MH), Allie McKnight (Sr., S), Ainsley Muhl (Sr., L), Nicole Uzzo (Sr., DS). Others to Watch: MK Felke (Jr., OH), Gillian Manas (Fr., RS), Georgia Pickett (So., OH/MH). Outlook: “This year’s team is very unique in the sense that we are a veteran squad but young,” Bergin said. “We have four seniors who are the backbone of the team with a supporting cast of five juniors, a returning sophomore, who has put in an immense amount of work in the off season and it shows, and a few surprises we didn’t see coming. “As always our goal is to win the league regular season as well as the championship. And my honest opinion as of right now, I can’t see how it’s not possible. It’s been a while since I’ve seen an entire squad work as hard as they do, without coaches pushing them.”
Perkiomen Valley
Coach: Jessica Highley (second season).
League: Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Last Season: 10-10 (7-4 conference), lost to Pennridge in District 1-4A first round.
Top Returners: Abby Souder (Sr., L), Isabel Clauhs (Sr., OH), Naomi Clauhs (So., S/RS).
Others to Watch: Samantha Corey (Jr., MB), Camila Leyes (Jr., DS). Outlook: The Vikings return AllPAC Liberty Division first team selection Isabel Clauhs as PV aims to contend in a six-team Pioneer. “We are thankful and excited to have a season this year!” Highley said. “The girls are more motivated than ever to get out there and play the sport they love. We have a large senior class this season with a lot of talent and I think they will work hard to learn and improve even more each day!”
Souderton
Coach: Cori Watson (first season).
League: SOL Continental Conference.
Last Season: 10-10 (9-9 SOL American).
Key Losses: Maya Hanson (S), Amelia Hanson (OH), Hana Ekecs (L).
Top Returners: Olivia Horas (Sr., MB/OH), Alyssa Reiner (Jr., OH), Maddy McCarthy (Sr., OH), Grace Petersen (Sr., L/DS). Others to Watch: McKenna Murawski (Fr., OH/L/DS), Gwen Anderson (So., S), Becca Arobone (Sr.) Outlook: Watson takes over a Big Red program that returns a pair of SOL Continental honorable mentions in senior Horas and junior Reiner. “This season we’re extremely grateful to be in the gym,” Watson said. “We know it will be a season unlike any we’ve played before, but we’re excited for the challenge. This year’s squad is experienced with seven seniors. Graduating a setter has left us spending a lot of time building new connections between setters and hitters. “We’re a hardworking group. I’m excited to work with the varsity squad and build on some of the success we had last year. Our goal is to be consistent and competitive in every match.”
Upper Dublin
Coach: Paul Choi (sixth season). League: SOL American Conference.
Last Season: 13-9 (12-6 SOL American), lost to Methacton in District 1-4A first round.
Key Losses: Shannon Yoast (OH), Aileen Kohlbrenner (DS), Sarah Randall (S).
Top Returners: Anna Faust (Sr., L), Maggie Faust (Sr., DS), Emily Senior (Sr., M), Charlotte Qi (Jr., OH).
Others to Watch: Sophia Sabri (Jr., M), Lexi Jakubowitz (Sr., OH), Lauren Price (Sr., S). Outlook: Anna Faust returns at libero after earning All-SOL American first team honors last season. “With so much uncertainty, we as a team are grateful that we are able to have a season this year,” Choi said. “Although it may look completely different, we are not making excuses and making the best of every situation. Our team continues to have a strong defensive presence and look to challenge some of the top schools in our conference. We hope that all the fall sports have a successful and safe season.”
William Tennent
Coach: Brian Bassler (16th season).
League: SOL National Conference.
Last Season: 10-12 (7-11 SOL National).
Key Losses: Chiara Ciccone (L), Riley Morgan (OH), Sara Ingham (MH).
Top Returners: Mackenzie Clee (Sr., RS), Brianna Zysk (Sr., MH), Sarah Cummins (Sr., DS), Julia Booz (Sr., S).
Others to Watch: Meredith Johnson (Jr., OH), Maggie McGlynn (Jr., DS/L), Julia Richard (Jr., DS/L), Charlotte Reeves (So., Middle). Outlook: “We are a strong serving team and play scrappy defense,” Bassler said. “Our passing consistency and size will be our biggest question marks. One final question mark is how to deal with “the beam” for three straight sets at Pennsbury :-)”