Upper Merion gets revenge on PJP

For Digital First Media

ROYERSFORD >> The Upper Merion volleyball team entered Thursday night’s Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship with revenge on its mind.

Since joining the PAC three years ago, the Vikings had lost just three conference games and captured a pair of Frontier Division titles, but they were still in search of their first conference title after losing to Pope John Paul II in last year’s championship game.

“When we joined this conference, championships were a regular thing for our team,” Upper Merion coach Tony Funsten said. “Now we’ve won back-to-back division titles, but they upset us in the final last year. Maybe we righted things this year.”

Indeed, the Vikings did avenge their loss by beating the Golden Panthers in straight sets — 2520, 25-16, 25-22 — to capture their first PAC title.

“We were definitely ready,” Upper Merion senior Tori Wright said. “Knowing what happened last year, I think this was a revenge and we came into this game knowing what we had to do to win.”

The two teams looked evenly matched early, splitting the first 28 points down the middle. But the Vikings went on an 11-6 run to close out the first set and never looked back. Upper Merion then won the second set in dominant fashion, jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead and never trailing in a wireto-wire victory that put them one set away from the championship.

“I think once our adrenaline calmed down, we were able to play better,” Funsten explained. “We just needed to settle down and play smart. Once we did that, we were able to take control of the game.” VOLLEYBALL >> PAGE 3

MJ MCCONNEY — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Upper Merion girls volleyball team poses with the PAC championship plaque after winning the league title over Pope John Paul II Thursday.