Pisch-Koffel follows mom’s footsteps in coaching Lansdale Catholic

LANSDALE >> Taking over a Lansdale Catholic girls volleyball program her mother made into one of the best in the Philadelphia Catholic League is a job Katrina Pisch-Koffel is comfortable with.

“I see it as having huge shoes to fill, but it makes me feel better that they’re my mom’s shoes,” she said.

Pisch-Koffel’s mom, Joann Pisch, was head coach of the Crusaders for five seasons, a span during which LC won three straight PCL championships (2012-2014), four consecutive District 12-AA titles (2011-2014) and reached the PIAA AA semifinals in 2013.

While this season is Pisch-Koffel’s first time coaching at the high school level, she has previously been a club coach and has an impressive background as a player.

She won three consecutive PIAA AA titles at Merion Mercy Academy. In college, she earned AVCA First Team All-America honors as a senior at Eastern University and helped the Eagles make four NCAA Division III tournament Sweet 16s, reaching the Elite 8 in 2013 and Final Four in 2011.

“I’m a little different but we’ve always kind of done the same things, we’ve always been the same style coach. I mean, I’ve been coaching club for years, so it’s not that different than my mom’s style,” Pisch-Koffel said. “So the practices are still kind of similar, the girls kind of still have the same energy in the gym, it’s just a younger coach Pisch, but now I’m married, so Koffel.”

Lansdale Catholics reign atop the PCL ended last season with a semifinal loss to eventual champ Archbishop Wood. But an experienced senior group is intent on getting the Crusaders back its league crown.

“This year Katrina made our team motto for varsity ‘To Rise Up,” so we can rise up from last year’s mishap,” LC senior said. Onu said. “To rise up from that and win PCL.”

Onu will be a big part of that rise if it happens. She led Lansdale Catholic in kills, hitting percentage and blocks last season in earning PVCA Class AA All-State honors at middle blocker and has verbally committed to Duquesne University. That is only after picking up the sport in seventh grade, playing on the CYO C team at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in Montgomery Township.

“I didn’t really have that much of an opportunity to work on what I needed to work on. But I had fun on that team,” Onu said. “And when I came here, they really opened me up and taught me the whole game.”

The Crusaders continue to have big expectations and now it is up to Pisch-Koffel to keep up the team’s – and her family’s – tradition.

“I think the pressure is on Lansdale Catholic in general, regardless of who was going to step in, there was going to be major pressure,” Pisch-Koffel said. “So it might as well be me, and at least I’m used to the program, I know the girls, I know the staff around here, the trainer, the athletic director, I know all the other coaches.”

Changing Landscape

A big change to girls volleyball in 2016 is the PIAA upping the number of classes from three to four.

The majority of District 1 (49 of 72 schools) including all of the Suburban One League, is in the largest class, AAAA.

The Catholic Academies’ Gwynedd Mercy and Mount St. Joseph along with Pope John Paul II of the PAC-10 are in AAA, as are District 12’s Archbishop Wood and Lansdale Catholic. St. Basil (1) and Bishop McDevitt (12) are AA schools with Calvary Baptist, Dock Mennonite Academy and Faith Christian forming a four-team District 1-A along with Sacred Heart.

Leagues also did some shuffling. Upper Merion and Norristown left the SOL for the PAC-10, giving the league eight teams in the sport.

With the Suburban One down to 20 schools, the league is now split into two conferences:

SOL Continental: Abington, Cheltenham, Hatboro-Horsham, North Penn, Pennridge, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Quakertown, Souderton, Upper Dublin, Wissahickon.

SOL National: Bensalem, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, Central Bucks West, Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Neshaminy, Pennsbury, Truman, William Tennent.

The Bicentennial Athletic League also expanded, adding Calvary Baptist its existing lineup of Dock, Faith, MaST Charter and New Hope-Solebury.

Abington
Coach: Jea Lee (seventh season).
League: Suburban One League Continental Conference.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 13-8 (8-6 SOL National), lost to Penncrest in District 1-AAA second round.
Key Players Lost: Leah Simmons, Claire Gassman, Emma Garg, Jamie Kidd.
Top Returners: Hannah Dalton (Jr., middle hitter), Grace Whitney (Jr., middle hitter), Anna Banter (Jr., setter), Kaylee Goodson (Sr., outside hitter).
Others to Watch: Aishlin Resureccion (Fr., outside hitter/setter), Kaley Ehnow (So., middle hitter), Shannon Rzler (So., defensive specialist), Amanda Rice (Jr., defensive specialist).
Outlook: We are a very young and proven team. Our team’s expectations are high after tasting a successful run in the playoffs,” Lee said. “We have good height around the net and will cause problems for opponents. Our biggest goal is to advance farther than last year’s successful season.”

Academy New Church
Coach: Holly Adams (third season).
Last Season: 8-10 overall.
Key Players Lost: Hannah Dewees, Carina Lindrooth, Amissah Synnestvedt.
Top Returners: Allaina Brock (Jr., setter), Alexis Nakos (Sr., middle), Laryl Mergen (Jr., libero).
Others to Watch: Nicole McCurdy (Fr., outside), Libby Allen (Jr., defensive specialist), Megan McQueen (Jr., middle), Kate Will (Sr., defensive specialist).
Outlook: The Lions made a six-win improvement last season and are now aiming to better the eight wins they picked up in 2015. ANC graduated six seniors, but is rebuilding with a strong freshman class. Adams says serving and offense will be strength for the squad this year.

Archbishop Carroll
Coach: Brian McCann (third season).
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District: 12-AAAA.
Last Season: 20-3, 10-1 league, lost to Archbishop Wood in PCL final.
Key Players Lost: Emily McCann.
Top Returners: MaryKate Painter (outside hitter/libero), Hannah Wright (outside hitter), Morgan Silks (setter), Gina Custer (libero).
Others to Watch: Abby Wright (middle/right side), Paige Monastero (outside hitter), Brie Lyons (middle/outside hitter), Amelia Painter (setter/defensive specialist).
Outlook: “This is my third year as coach and the system is in place,” McCann said. “We have six returning starters from last year’s team that spent most of the year in the top 10 of the state, and lost in the Catholic League final. We are working hard to win the Catholic league and make a deep run in the state playoffs.”

Bishop McDevitt
Coach: Jim Harrigan (second season).
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District-Class: 12-AA
Last Season: 2-9, lost in MaST Charter in District 12-AA final.
Key Players Lost: Benita Barbour, Jennifer Dang, Catherine Oberholzer.
Top Returners: McKenna Loughney (Sr., setter), Leona Lavong (Sr., middle blocker), Colleen McDermott (Sr., outside hitter), Courtney O’Connell (Jr., setter).
Others to Watch: Patricia Templeton (So., outside hitter), Endrysa Peguero (Sr., middle blocker).
Outlook: “I am very excited about our season. I have a better relationship with the players because we had more time to get to know each other,” Harrigan said. “I know who the core of the team is now. Last year I had to figure that out as the season went on. We also have eight freshmen this year which will help the future of the program.”

Central Bucks West
Coach: Todd Miller (sixth season)
League: SOL National Conference.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 14-6 (9-3 SOL Continental), lost to West Chester Rustin in District 1-AAA first round.
Key Players Lost: Sophie Videva, Julia Schweibenz
Top Returners: Kayla King (Sr., setter), Kailey Prall (Sr., libero), Katie Hudson (Jr., outside hitter).
Outlook: After taking second in the Continental in 2015, the Bucks will try to be among the best in the realigned 10-team SOL National. King is back at setter after being name All-District 1 honorable mention as a junior.
“The goal for this team will be to play scrappy, be aggressive and to improve throughout the season,” Miller said.

Cheltenham
Coach: Ryan Genova (first season).
League: SOL Continental Conference.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 4-16 (2-12 SOL American).
Key Players Lost: Gen Tarlo, Rebecca Tarlo, Lucy Toledo, Megan Smadga.
Top Returners: Aine Dougherty (Sr., outside hitter), Mia Leonard (Sr., middle hitter), Clare Maus (Sr., setter), Terrica Do (Sr., libero), Hala Maher (Sr., middle hitter), Alessandra Booth (Sr., opposite).
Others to Watch: Megan Dougherty (So., outside hitter), Najeh Edens (So., middle hitter).
“We’ll be a seasoned team with a huge nucleus of seniors,” Genova said. “The girls get along with each other outstandingly. Their strength will be their relationships on and off the court. Our conference is competitive – we’ll need to grow in all ways between now and October.”

Dock Mennonite Acacemy
Coach: Trish Hoover (fifth season).
League: Bicentennial Athletic League
District-Class: 1-A.
Last Season: 14-6 (6-0 league), lost to Sacred Heart in District 1-A final
Key Players Lost: Lanae Hunsberger.
Top Returners: Daphne Hunsinger (Sr., outside hitter), Courtney Herm (Sr., outside hitter), Molly Hand (Jr., setter), Carsyn McCloskey (Jr., defensive specialist/libero), Hannah Swartley (Jr., outside hitter), Nicole Ford (So., outside hitter)
Outlook: Graduating five seniors, the Pioneers are a young side led by captains Hunsinger and Herm. Ford is out with an ACL injury, but Hoover is hoping to have her back by mid-season.
Dock has big matches against BAL rival New Hope-Solebury – away Sept. 20, home Oct. 6 – and at Sacred Heart Sept. 30. Dock and Sacred Heart have played in the last four District 1-A finals, Sacred Heart winning three of the contests (2012, 2014, 2015).

Germantown Academy
Coach: Daniel Sullivan (fourth season).
League: Inter-Academic League.
Last Season: 14-2 (8-0 league), lost to Notre Dame in PAISSA final.
Key Players Lost: Grace Polisano, Carly Pruitt, Erin Lindahl.
Top Returners: Cat Polisano (Jr., setter), Emma Rapp (Sr., middle blocker), Jenna Schumann (Jr., outside hitter).
Others to Watch: Alison Weber (Jr., outside hitter), Shannon Topley (So., libero).
Outlook: “Although we graduated quite a bit of offensive power as well as our libero, I believe we have the personnel ready to fill some big shoes,” Sullivan said. “This team is deeper than any other I’ve coached. We are younger across the board so we’ll see how we handle the momentum swings that usually take place throughout a match.”

Gwynedd Mercy
Coach: Michael Nguyen
League: Athletic Association of Catholic Academies
District-Class: 1-AAA.
Last Season: 13-5, lost to Villa in AACA semifinals, lost to Villa Maria in District 1-AA semifinals.
Top Returners: Lauren Holland (libero), Abby Kress (outside hitter), Olivia Guinther (opposite), Catherine Peel (outside hitter), Gabrielle Green (middle hitter), Lizzy Ferguson (Jr., middle hitter), Gabrielle DeLuca (setter)
Outlook: Returning seven starters – two being libero Holland and outside hitter Kress, All-District 1 AA selections in 2015 – the Monarchs are primed to compete with Merion Mercy, Mount St. Joseph, Villa Maria in the Catholic Academies.
“If we go out and work hard we should get positive results, but if we take teams lightly, bad habits start to form,” Nguyen said. “We need to have each other’s backs out there on the court.”

Hatboro-Horsham
Coach: Jonathan Young (second season).
League: SOL Continental.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 8-12 (7-7 SOL American).
Key Players Lost: Cassidy Quattro, Jen Nesbitt.
Top Returners: Holly Owen (Sr., outside hitter), Katerina Yankanich (Jr., outside hitter), Allison Laucella (Sr., libero), Victoria Rapak (Sr., middle), Liz Dever (Sr., opposite), Maddie Kallmeyer (Jr., defensive specialist).
Others to Watch: Marykate Scully (Fr., hitter), Rachel Dittus (So., setter).
Outlook: “Last year there were many changes including the coaching staff, and a large learning curve,” Young said. “With returning talent, a strong senior class, and a good off-season training we plan to contend at the highest level within SOL and beyond,” Young said. “The leadership has been established and culture rectified allowing us to perform at the level that we want to be at.”

Lansdale Catholic
Coach: Katrina Pisch-Koffel (first season).
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District-Class: 12-AAA.
Last Season: 10-8 (8-3 league) lost to Archbishop Wood in PCL semifinals.
Key Players Lost: Kelly Piotrowicz, Anna Wojkto
Top Returners: Ego Onu (Sr., middle blocker), Cait Maskornick (Sr., libero).
Others to Watch: Emily Freer (So., middle), Colleen McFadden (Sr., outside), Dana Senour (Jr., setter).
Outlook: The Crusaders came up short on a fourth straight PCL crown last season, but LC competes again at the top of the league with defending champ Archbishop Wood, Archbishop Carroll and Cardinal O’Hara.
Onu, who has verbally committed to Duquesne, led the team in kills, hitting percentage and blocks in being name to the Class AA All-State team in 2015. Libero Maskornick is back are earning All-PCL second team honors while Senour and Freer look to step up into bigger roles this year.

Methacton
Coach: Shane Manser (second season).
League: Pioneer Athletic Conference.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 10-10 (5-5 conference).
Key Players Lost: Clare Miller, Megan Casey, Liz Juescher, Jenn Farnum.
Top Returners: Ashley Newman (Sr., libero), Andrew Castaneda (Jr., outside), Emma Eglinton (So., setter), Carli Ginther (So., setter/right side), Rainah Dunham (Sr., middle), Maggie Welsh (Jr., middle), Bridget Miller (Sr., right side).
Others to Watch: Lisa Sortino (Sr., defensive specialist), Nicole Cooper (Jr., defensive specialist), Gianna Santangelo (Jr., outside), Lauren Stanley (So., outside).
Outlook: Methacton returns a lot of young players with varsity experience to go along with the leadership and skill of our four seniors. Strengths of the team should be defense and setting,” Manser said. “We have a balance of strong hitters across many positions and improving our team blocking ability has been a point of emphasis. We have been working to build a cohesive unit to battle in a tough Pac-10 conference.”

Pennridge
Coach: Brandon Johnson (first season).
League: SOL Continental.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 8-7 (7-5 SOL Continental), lost to Perkiomen Valley in District 1-AAA first round.
Key Players Lost: Krista Hiller.
Top Returners: Steph Judkins (Sr., outside hitter), Maddie Mosser (Sr., outside hitter), Caitlin Saalfrank (Sr., libero), Becca McBride (Sr., opposite hitter), Selene Cullen (Sr., middle blocker).
Others to Watch: Cecily Coffman (Jr., setter), Ally Scarborough (So., setter), Jess Kalams (Jr., opposite hitter), Emma Tirjan (Fr., middle blocker/outside hitter).
Outlook: The Rams have a pair of reliable outside hitters in All-State AAA selection Judkins and Mosser, who earned All-SOL Continental second team honors at middle blocker in 2015. Saalfrank, who made the all-conference third team at libero, will be a big key to Pennridge’s serve-receive and defense.
“The team is led by a strong core of seniors that have an enormous amount of playing experience that we hope will provide leadership to the incoming youthful areas of our roster,” Johnson said. “The team is filled with the potential for high offensive firepower and we will be relying on our young setters to get them the ball.
“The question will be if we can improve defensively and in Serve Receive to allow our young setters to gain confidence and success as the season progresses.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh
Coach: Seely Byler (third season).
League: SOL Continental.
District-Class: 1-AAAA
Last Season: 13-8 (9-5 SOL American), lost to Mount St. Joseph in District 1-AAA first round.
Key Players Lost: Brianna Schaffer, Kaeleigh Natale.
Top Returners: Lauren Coscia (Sr., middle blocker), Olivia Carbo (Sr., libero), Danielle Rippert (Sr., outside hitter), Bridget McTamney (Jr., setter).
Others to Watch: Emilee Waltz (Jr., outside hitter), Lily Acquaviva (So., right side/outside hitter), Taylor O’Brien (Jr., middle blocker), Samantha Ward (Sr., defensive specialist).
Outlook: The Colonials took third in the SOL American – behind co-champs Upper Merion and Upper Dublin – in 2015 and return nine varsity players that are strong in serve-reserve and balanced offensively.
Both Carbo and Ripper were all-conference first team picks last season with McTamney making honorable mention at setter.

Saint Basil
Coach: Lisa Breslin (second season).
League: Athletic Association of Catholic Academies.
District-Class: 1-AA.
Last Season: 5-12 (3-11 league).
Key Players Lost: Maura Francis
Top Returners: Colleen Lang (Sr., middle hitter), Maddie Riehman (Sr., setter).
Others to Watch: Mary Kelly (Fr., setter).
Outlook: The Panthers are out to move up the Catholic Academies standings with seven seniors back and a strong incoming class that includes setter Kelly.
“Some preseason injuries have caused us to change some positions but we feel pretty positive going into our season,” Breslin said.

Souderton
Coach: Dave Childs (fourth season).
League: SOL Continental.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 6-12 (4-8 SOL Continental).
Key Players Lost: Savannah Bostwick, Melissa Gould, Megan Pirtle, Terry Wilcox, Kathleen Winters.
Top Returners: Lauren Hamilton (Sr., setter), Miranda Baronett (Sr., outside hitter), Monica Miller (Sr., opposite), Molly McCarthy (Sr., middle hitter), Talia Watson (Jr., setter), Haley Novak (Jr., outside hitter), Torie Reiner (Jr., middle hitter), Hannah Fairweather (Jr., middle hitter).
Others to Watch: Becca Godshall (Jr., opposite), Bella Mazzeo (So., outside hitter), Mariagrazia Iervolino (So., outside hitter).
Outlook: The Indians have made steady progress under Childs – after winning one conference game his first season in 2013, Big Red won three in 2014 and then four last season. Miller is back after earning All-SOL Continental third team honors at opposite. Both Novak and Reiner were conference honorable mention picks.
We return an experienced group of players. We would like to improve on last season’s record and continue to become a more competitive program,” Childs said.

Upper Merion
Coach: Tony Funsten (23rd season).
League: Pioneer Athletic Conference.
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 22-6 (13-1 SOL American), lost to Bishop Shanahan in District 1-AAA quarterfinals.
Key Players Lost: Carlye Odorisio, Carolyn Helenski.
Top Returners: Emma Andraka (Jr., outside), Tori Wright (So., outside) Kelly Moore (So., setter), Katelyn O’Brien (So., setter), Danielle Chung (So., opposite), Hannah Delapaz (Jr., libero).
Others to Watch: Jess Michael (Sr., right side), Jordan Wilson (Jr., middle hitter), Maddie Bahmueller (Jr., middle hitter), Emily Gallahger (So., defensive specialist), Cammi Brady (So., right side), Sophie Gammarino (Fr., defensive specialist), Jill Demcher (Fr., outside hitter), Gretchen Bahmueller (Fr., outside hitter).
Outlook: After dominating the SOL American – winning the conference’s last nine titles, the Vikings have moved over to the PAC-10 will look to continue their success in a league led by Pope John Paul II and Perkiomen Valley.
While UM returns both outside hitters in Andraka and Wright, the team skews to the younger side, but Funsten is confident the Vikings will improve during the season and be ready for districts.

William Tennent
Coach: Brian Bassler
League: SOL National
District-Class: 1-AAAA.
Last Season: 12-10 (8-4) conference, lost to Central Bucks East in District 1-AAA first round.
Top Returners: Laura Cochrane (Sr., opposite), Colleen McDermott (Sr., middle hitter/opposite), Elisse Hanssen (Sr., middle hitter/opposite/outside hitter); Lindsey Snock (Sr., middle hitter), Ariel Goldberg (Sr., setter/libero), Virsaviya Volosevich (Sr., setter), Steph Woolston (Jr., libero/setter/defensive specialist), Nicole Long (Jr., outside hitter)
Outlook: After making the postseason in 2015, the Panthers return an experience group including all-SOL National picks Long (2nd team), Cochrane and Snock (both third team) and Goldberg (honorable mention).
“We are looking forward to having a successful and competitive year. We have a lot of returning upperclassman who have been working very hard the past few seasons in both the school season and club season,” Bassler said. “Their growth has been nice to watch as volleyball players and as people. They are a tight group who support one another and put the team first.”