Balta, fab freshmen keep Penncrest rolling past Strath Haven

MIDDLETOWN — It was only fitting that Kristina Balta had the assist on Liz Kurcon’s kill that gave Penncrest a 3-1 Central League volleyball victory over Strath Haven at Kauffman Gymnasium Thursday night.

Officially, it was kill No. 1,020 of her illustrious career. Balta finished with 22 helpers to reach the millennium mark in that category. That it came at home, against the archrival Panthers, made it extra special.

“The win on top of 1,000 assists is just great,” said Balta, who also had 10 kills and 10 digs.

And it was just as appropriate that Kurcon, a freshman, was on the receiving end of the pass that capped the 25-13, 26-28, 25-21, 25-22 triumph and extended Penncrest’s winning streak to three matches while tightening the race for the Central League title.

The Lions (8-5, 6-2 Central) are riding high thanks to the play of Balta and fellow seniors Julia Kasper (10 kills, 12 digs), Lily Mallon (21 digs), and Jessica Kasper, and junior Ashley Rodgers, combined with the remarkable poise of a strong freshman class that includes Kurcon, Mary Kate Cosgrove and Ciara Bradley.

“They don’t get under pressure,” Balta said of the freshmen. “They’re like, ‘Whatever.’ They’ve been unbelievable.”

Kurcon had a monster game with 13 aces, 11 kills and 11 digs and set the tone at the service line in the first set. She ran off eight straight points to break the set open and added a 6-0 run later in the set to seal the deal.

“Her serves are always so consistent,” Balta said of Kurcon. “She and Jess Kasper, they always go on runs to give our team so much energy that carries us through the rest of the game.”

Penncrest’s resolve showed in the third and fourth sets after Strath Haven battled back to even the match, and the play of the freshmen was instrumental in the turnaround. Kurcon was on the service line for three straight points that gave the Lions a 5-1 lead they never relinquished.

In the third set, Cosgrove and Bradley teamed up to block a big swing from Strath Haven’s Olivia Dumont.

“They’re killing it,” Penncrest coach Ashley Merton said of the freshmen. “They have great upperclassmen to build them up and they’ve really come together as a team. They’ve really stepped up to the plate.”

The loss was the second in a row and first in the league for the Panthers (9-3, 6-1) and dropped Strath Haven into a tie with Garnet Valley for first place in Central, with Ridley, Lower Merion, Conestoga and Penncrest one game off the pace.

Ellie Fisher paced the attack with 15 kills. Gabby McGinn had 12 kills, 16 assists and 17 digs. Olivia Dumont contributed 15 assists and six kills.

“When we got our serves down, we couldn’t hit, and when we hit we couldn’t serve,” Strath Haven coach Rachel Powers said. “It was that kind of night. And give Penncrest credit. They’re a good young team and they played really well tonight.”

But the night belonged to the Lions.

“We wanted it so so badly and we got it,” Balta said.

In Catholic League action:

Cardinal O’Hara 3, John W. Hallahan 1 >> Bridget McGuinn (eight digs, two aces) and Regan Hickey (six aces) pounded eight kills apiece to keep the Lions (15-1, 7-0) undefeated in league play. Olivia Reilly contributed six kills and two blocks to the victory.

Bonner-Prendergast 3, Archbishop Ryan 0 >> Sam Lachette showed the way with 10 kills, eight digs and seven aces. Abby Lace added 14 digs and eight aces, while Lindsey Fagan pitched in with 12 digs, eight assists and three kills for the Pandas (5-7, 4-4).

In the Catholic Academies League:

Sacred Heart 3, Gwynedd Mercy 2 >> Erin Corcoran collected 19 kills, including three in the deciding set, to pace the Lions (7-6, 5-4). She also had 15 digs and three aces.

Emily McKenna (10 blocks, 11 digs, seven kills, two aces), Bella O’Toole (16 digs, five kills, three aces, two blocks) and Hannah Martinson (10 digs, three assists, three aces) also came up big for Sacred Heart.

In the Ches-Mont League:

Sun Valley 3, Avon Grove 0 >> Olivia Nickerson (12 digs) and Hannah Vickers (15 assists) posted 10 kills each for the Vanguards (13-2, 7-1). Jordan Thompson chipped in with six kills.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Agnes Irwin 3, Springside Chestnut Hill 0 >> Avery Seibert led a strong defense with four blocks. Mara Zwilling led the attack with four kills, while Jenna Zwilling had six digs.

In nonleague action:

Notre Dame 3, Conestoga 0 >> Grace Guerin was a force at the net with 10 kills and seven blocks. Keegan Bradley came up big with four kills and three aces. Bryn Pippet and Ciara Hibbs combined for 18 digs to pace the offense.

Upper Darby 3, Overbrook 0 >> The Royals benefitted from 41 aces, with Tara Gilligan leading the way with 16, and Rylee Shanahan added 11. Violet Lange led the attack with eight kills.