Hopkins, Balta control the net in win for Penncrest
Bridgette Devlin burned the floor for 30 digs while Emily Hopkins (15 kills) and Diana Balta (12 kills) controlled the net, powering Penncrest past Marple Newtown, 3-1, in Central League play.
Nikki Gargiule added 19 assists and seven kills for the Lions (13-4 overall, 8-3 league), while the Tigers were led by Sarah Roberts (18 kills) and Rachel Dennin (18 assists).
Elsewhere in the Central League:
Haverford High 3, Ridley 2: The Green Raiders (9-9 overall) opened the match with a 25-17 win and forced a fifth set with a 25-18 triumph, thanks largely to Molly Murtha (13 kills, 10 blocks), Samantha Schreiber (14 kills) and Melanie Malseed (31 digs).
Springfield 3, Harriton 0: Kerianne Gilligan (nine kills) and Chloe Williams (eight kills, four blocks) took care of business up front while Emily Stevenson (15 assists) distributed the ball for the Cougars.
Conestoga 3, Upper Darby 0 : Evie Shanefield and Shankena Walls delivered nine kills apiece and April Hinkle dished 15 assists in a losing effort by the Royals (4-15, 2-9).
In the Del Val League:
Chichester 3, Penn Wood 0: Becca Civera served nine consecutive points and Sam Falcone strung together eight straight service points to pace the Eagles’ balanced attack.
In nonleague action:
Bonner-Prendergast 3, Academy Park 0: The Pandas (8-6) needed solid performances from Veronica Kerchner (eight kills), Amber Ballinger (seven kills, four aces) and Jackie McCarrick (13 digs) to battle past Academy Park, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-17.
Villa Maria 3, Notre Dame 0 : The Irish (12-3) put up a fight behind Shannon Quigley’s 18 kills, Ali Rae’s 16 assists and a combined 10 aces by Ashley Haas and Dana Kieft.
