2019 Mercury-Area Girls Volleyball Team-By-Team Preview
Boyertown
Coach: Mike Ludwig, third season
Last year’s record: 18-5, 11-2 PAC
Players to watch: Emily Wolfe, Sr., Middle Hitter; Emma Ludwig, Jr., S/OH; Julia Smith, Sr., L; Savannah Derstine, Sr., DS; Jessie Ahart, Jr., OH; Adrianna Derstine, So., OH/MH; Logan Black, Jr., RS/DS
Season outlook: 2018 was a season of firsts for Boyertown as the Bears won their first PAC Liberty Division title and made their first Pioneer Athletic Conference and District 1-4A playoff appearances. With a taste of heightened success, the Bears hope to make the postseason once again this year.“Many of the girls have spent the off season working on their individual skills,” coach Mike Ludwig said. “We have had a solid preseason with very spirited/competitive practices. Within a strong division, we are looking to compete for a PAC and district playoff berth. We have a solid nucleus returning from last year and are looking for the younger players to step in and fill the holes left by our 2018 senior class.”
Daniel Boone
Coach: Matt Kessler, third season
Last year’s record: 8-10, 5-7 Berks
Players to watch: Valori Klick, Sr., MB; Ally Santos, Sr., L; Arden McCoy, Sr., OH/MB; Madison Armstrong, Sr. S/OH; JJ Valentin, Sr., S; Ashley Kreibel, So., DS/OH; Aubrey Hunt, So., MB
Season outlook: Daniel Boone was right on the precipice of a District 3 playoff appearance last season. The Blazers were the final team out a year after appearing in the Berks County and District III playoff appearances. That could be a motivation factor for a senior group, which returns JJ Valentin after living in Puerto Rico last year. “Daniel Boone should be a strong defensive team this year being led by standout senior libero, Ally Santos, who will be a four-year varsity letterman in volleyball for Daniel Boone,” DB coach Matt Kessler said. “Daniel Boone will reach its highest potential with the continued integration of setter, JJ Valentin, back into the line-up and the resultant re-familiarization with the hitters that continues to develop every day. This team will continue to improve day-by-day throughout the season as this process takes place.”
Methacton
Coach: Shane Manser, 15th season
Last year’s record: 12-8 overall, 7-6 PAC
Players to watch: Sydney Zerbe, Sr., OH; Ellie Brunt, Sr., L/S; Nya Cherry, Sr., DS; Emma Ginther, Jr., DS/OH; Alli Hazlett, Jr., MH; Andria Santangelo, Jr., RS; Emme Brunt, Jr., DS/RS; Melinda Eglinton, So., MH, Claire Claudie, So., OH; Meghan Haftl, So., S; Madi Roth, So., S
Season outlook: The Warriors depart three all-league players from a team that lost in the first round of the District 1-4A playoffs to Council Rock South. It was the first time since 2015 Methacton didn’t win a district playoff game. The Warriors will hope to extend their consecutive district playoff streak to four in a row and get back to their winning ways this year. “Methacton will have a very balanced offense with four hitters (Zerbe, Eglinton, Hazlett and Santangelo) returning in their roles from last season and the addition of Claire Claudie on the outside,” Methacton coach Shane Manser said. “Filling the holes left at the key positions of libero and setter will be the main challenge this season. Methacton has a lot of young, exciting talent as well as great leadership and experience and should be ready for great season.”
Norristown
Coach: Connie Blades-Randolph, third season
Last year’s record: 6-15, 1-12 PAC
Season outlook: The Norristown girls volleyball is trending up since Connie Blades-Randolph took over the program that won one game in 2017. Blades-Randolph’s first freshman class will be juniors this season and has her excited about what they can accomplish in 2019. “I have a very hungry group of young student athletes that are committed to the program,” Blades-Randolph said. “Each player has improved tremendously. I can’t single one person out over anyone else because my starting seven are all amazing and my eight to 10 players are willing and able to do their part. I am very excited to watch my teams get more wins this year and extend their regular season past the last home game. They are still polishing their skills as a team so once we start fully shining big things will happen for sure.”
Owen J. Roberts
Coach: Amanda Lynch (head coach), first season, and Nicole McGonigal (assistant), first season
Last year’s record: 7-10, 4-9 PAC
Players to watch: Chloe Golas, Sr., OH; Jordyn Chambers, Sr., S; Madison Harvey, Jr., OH/DS; Hannah Lewiski, Jr., OH; Abby Mattis, Jr., OH, Jessica Taney, Jr., MH
Season outlook: Head coach Amanda Lynch and assistant Nicole McGonigal are excited about taking over the OJR program this season. The outside and middle hitters will both be strengths for the OJR team, which hopes to blend veterans and youth in order to be competitive in the PAC Liberty division. “A new season, new players, and new opportunities await the Wildcats,” Lynch said. “In the year ahead, we hope to utilize our seniors’ strengths as well as build on the upcoming players skills and confidence. This season looks to have a promising outlook with a great, dedicated, and well-rounded team.”
Perkiomen Valley
Coach: Jessica Highley, first season
Last year’s record: 18-8-1, 7-4 PAC
Players to watch: Isabel Clauhs, Jr., OH; Allison Haflett, Jr., OH; Ashley Bolan, Jr., S/DS; Naomi Clauhs, Fr., S/OPP; Brianna Reim, Jr., DS; Veronika Paciorek So., MB
Season outlook: Perkiomen Valley made the PAC Final Four and won a district playoff game in 2018, but first-year coach Jessica Highley will have her hands full in matching those results this year. Of the five all-league players from last year’s group, only junior outside hitter Isabel Clauhs returns. She said defense and a “scrappy” attitude will be the strengths of this group, which still has hopes of another PAC and district playoff appearance. “After graduating so many key players, we have a young but strong group willing to step up this year to fill those spots,” Highley said. “The girls are going to need to focus on defense this season to help us contend with the top teams. They know it will be a rebuilding year for us with a young team, but they are motivated to get better each time they step on the court and that’s what will help us in being successful this season.”
Phoenixville
Coach: Mike Lantzy, second season.
Last year’s record: 5-4 PAC Frontier; 12-10 overall.
Last year’s record: 9-13, 4-9 PAC
Players to watch: Maria Coll, Sr., L; Leilu Campbell, Jr., DS; Courtney Gable, Jr., RH; Alexa Grammerstorf, Jr., S; Hayden Perrone, Jr., DS
Season outlook: Phoenixville had 11 seniors on its roster last season. The Phantoms will have to replace all-league players Kayla Grammerstorf, Keara Hennessey and Romina Broglia. Coll, Campbell, Gable, Alexa Grammerstorf and Hayden Perrone were the only underclassmen on the varsity roster last season. They will be looked on to guide this year’s group as Phoenixville tries to replace the large senior class.
Pope John Paul II
Coach: Ryan Sell, 8th season
Last Season’s Record: 14-8, 9-5 PAC
Players to watch: Sarah Ward, Sr., OH; Hanna Tulli, Jr., MH; Chelsea Harvey, Jr., S; Téa Pasquale, Sr., L; Lexi McMonagle, Jr., S; Haley Spotts, Sr., MH; Julia Durand, Sr., OPP; Heather Lesinski, Jr., OH; Isabella Ricevuto, Jr., OH; Lauren Phillips, Jr., OH; Jessica Donovan, Jr., DS; Grace Cooper, Fr., DH
Season Outlook: Pope John Paul II finished second in the PAC Frontier division, second in the PAC and second in the District 1-3A tournament before advancing to the state quarterfinals in 2018. Sparano, Tulli, Ward and Harvey were all-state players who should make the Golden Panthers the PAC favorite and district and state contenders once again in 2019. “We return a lot of good players and I think we will hit the ground running,” coach Ryan Sell said. “We will be a very good serving and defensive team and we are working hard every day to improve our offense. I’m looking forward to the season to see how much we grow as a group.
Pottsgrove
Coach: Jaime Reinhart, third season
Last year’s record: 3-15, 0-13 PAC
Players to watch: Sydney Schwanbeck, So., S/MH; Sydney Wasdick, So., S/OH; Elisabeth Holcomb, Sr., L; Janiya Jones, Jr., MH/OH
Season outlook: The departure of seven seniors means the Falcons will rely on a lot of new players in 2019. With a new-look roster, Reinhart said her team will focus on mastering the fundamentals this season in hopes of improving on last year’s mark. “We graduated seven seniors last year so we have many fresh faces at the varsity level, with only 4 girls having varsity experience,” Reinhart said. “In our third season, we hope to show more improvement and consistency with the fundamentals of the game, and to improve our record every year.”
Spring-Ford
Coach: Josh McNulty
Last year’s record: 8-10, 7-6 PAC
Players to watch: Anoushka Patel, So.
Season outlook: The Rams took a step back last season, missing out on the PAC and district playoffs after just missing out on state playoff berth in the previous season. First team all-area selections Grace Kraft and Olivia Olsen leave big holes to fill for this year’s Spring-Ford team.
Upper Merion
Coach: Tony Funsten, 26th season
Last year’s record: 31-3, 13-0 PAC
Players to watch: Gretchen Bahmueller, Sr., MH; Jill Demcher, Sr., OH; Sophie Gammarino, Sr., OH; Gen Cirafesi, Sr. L; Vanessa Hutchinson, So., L; Annamarie Marsh, Sr., S; Aryana Chambers, Jr., MB; Anika Vilivalam, Jr., OPP; Gina Geosits, Jr., OPP
Season outlook: Upper Merion posted its second consecutive undefeated mark in the PAC last season before finishing third in the District 1-4A playoffs and advancing to the state quarterfinals. The Vikings graduated four four-year starters, but also bring back several returners who will look to keep the team competitive in the PAC and district. “We are approaching 750 wins as a program coming off our 31-3 season last year,” coach Tony Funsten said. “We went undefeated in the tough PAC for the second year in a row and carry a 26 league match win streak into this season. The bad news is that we lost almost everyone from last year’s powerhouse … The good news? The players who are replacing the graduates are very good, experienced players.”
West-Mont
Coach: Charis Felton, 4th season
Last year’s record: 6-11 overall, Lost in first round of the ACCAC Playoffs
Players to watch: Lindsey Houck, Jr., DS; Deborah Shurtleff, Jr., OH; Lexi Fox, Sr., OH
Season outlook: West-Mont’s keys to success this season include eliminating serve-receive errors, improving play at the setter position and playing with more confidence. Wings’ coach Charis Felton is putting a lot of responsibility in the hands of a first-year player in order for the team to accomplish its goals. “The Wings are looking to rebuild after graduating five seniors,” Felton said. “The team will have to overcome youth and inexperience to compete in a strong Atlantic Coast Christian Athletic Conference. Freshman setter Megan Wismer will need to rise to the occasion if the team hopes to contend for a final 4 spot in the ACCAC Playoffs.”
