PAC Girls Volleyball Championship Preview: Pope John Paul II vs. Boyertown
The Pioneer Athletic Conference Girls Volleyball championship will take place Thursday, 7 p.m., at Norristown High School.
Liberty Division champion Boyertown, a 3-2 semifinal winner against Upper Merion on Tuesday, will face Frontier champ Pope John Paul II, which swept Methacton in the other semifinal.
A breakdown of the matchup:
Pope John Paul II (1) vs. Boyertown (2)
Records: Pope John Paul II: 8-0 PAC Frontier, 13-0 PAC, 17-1 overall, Frontier Division champion, No. 1 in District 1-3A rankings.
Boyertown: 8-0 PAC Liberty, 12-1 PAC, 18-2 overall, Liberty Division champion, No. 4 in District 1-4A rankings
Head-to-head: Pope John Paul II swept Boyertown 3-0 by scores of 25-18, 25-14 and 25-15 on Sept. 25. … The Golden Panthers also swept the Bears in the 2018 PAC semifinals after dropping a regular-season contest to Boyertown.
PAC Playoff History >> PJP has been in all seven PAC championship games since 2013, winning four league titles thus far. The Golden Panthers had won two straight league titles before being swept by Upper Merion in last year’s championship game … Boyertown made its first PAC Final Four appearance last season, before being swept by PJP. The Bears’ win over Upper Merion on Tuesday clinched their first PAC postseason win and title game berth.
PJP at a glance >> The Golden Panthers hadn’t dropped a set this season before a 3-1 loss to Downingtown East, No. 3 in the District 1-4A rankings, on Sept. 28. PJP has responded well, five in a row without dropping a set.
Junior middle hitter Hannah Tulli, junior outside hitter Sarah Ward and junior setter Chelsea Harvey were all-state selection a year ago from last year’s PAC and district runner-ups. Tulli had 13 kills and two aces, Ward tallied eight kills and two aces and Harvey had 34 assists and eight digs in Tuesday’s win.
Senior libero Tea Pasquale, who had 14 digs and four aces Tuesday, has filled in admirably for all-state libero Simone Sparano this season. Junior outside hitter Heather Lesinki (eight kills) and senior opposite Julia Durand (six kills) were other standouts from Tuesday’s contest.
Junior defensive specialist Jessie Donovan, freshman defensive specialist Grace Cooper, senior middle hitter Haley Spotts, junior outside hitter Lauren Phillips and junior outside hitter Bella Ricevuto have been other standouts for PJP this season.
Boyertown at a glance >> Boyertown started its program in 2017 with a nine-win campaign before advancing to the PAC Final Four for the first time in 2018. The Bears have taken another step forward in just their third season, advancing to the championship game with Tuesday’s come-from-behind five-set win against Upper Merion on Tuesday.
The Bears’ only losses this season have come to PJP and Unionville, which rank No.1 in the District 1-3A rankings and No. 2 in the District 1-4A rankings, respectively.
Senior middle hitter Emily Wolfe, (22 kills, 17 digs), junior setter Emma Ludwig (14 kills, 19 digs, 29 assists) and junior outside/middle hitter Adrianna Derstine (20 kills, 11 digs) were statistical stars in the win against Upper Merion on Tuesday.
Senior libero Julia Smith and senior defensive specialist Savannah Derstine have been key contributors since the program’s beginning in 2017. Junior outside hitter Jess Ahart is another Bear to keep an eye on.
Prediction >> While Boyertown has been a great story getting to the PAC championship game in just its third year, the Golden Panthers have been on a different level than the rest of the league this season … Pope John Paul II 3, Boyertown 1
