Villa Maria cruises past Palumbo in state opener

UPPER DUBLIN >> District 1 Class 3A champion Villa Maria Academy was able to use all of its players in the Hurricanes’ 3-0 win against District 12 runner-up Palumbo Tuesday in the PIAA 3A state tournament opener at Upper Dublin High School, while rolling up scores of 25-12, 25-7, 25-11.

“This was a total team victory,” said Villa Maria head coach Peggy Evans. “Everybody [on our team] got in. We played well – and Palumbo hustled all the way.”

The Hurricanes (20-3) were coming off an emotional district final win against Pope John Paul II, a team which they had gone 1-9 against prior to the game.

“There’s always a chance of a letdown after a game like that, but through the entire season, I’ve told our girls, ‘Give me 100 percent effort and 100 percent attitude and that will take care of the score.’”

Because of the extensive roster participation, no one Hurricane stood out statistically Tuesday against Palumbo. Senior setter Kelsey Hoff dished out eight assists and sophomore Erin Keaveney tallied seven assists.

With the victory, Villa Maria advances to the second round of the PIAA state tournament against the first-round winner of District 11 Allentown Central Catholic vs. District 3 runner-up Palmyra, played Tuesday evening after the Villa Maria game was completed.

Evans, in her first full year as head coach after serving as an assistant to Joe Boland for five years, said, “We have a great group of young ladies who have had a great season, and we’ll see how far we can go.”