Undefeated Shanahan sweeps Cumberland Valley in state opener

ROYERSFORD >> Bishop Shanahan senior Cara Shultz is such a dynamic force on the volleyball court, it’s easy to become mesmerized by her powerful kills and lethal jump-serves. But Shanahan is so much more than just Shultz, and on Tuesday in the opening round of the PIAA 4A playoffs, the Eagles reinforced the notion with a 3-0 triumph over District 3’s Cumberland Valley.
“We know that everybody that plays us is going to key on Cara, and if they can shut her down then they have a shot,” said Shanahan head coach Greg Ashman.
“But we’ve got a bunch of other players attacking balls all night, and our defense was solid.”
Ranked second in the state, the Eagles improve to 21-0 overall and advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face a Pennsbury squad they beat in the District 1 semifinals on the way to the program’s fifth straight district crown. Cumberland Valley’s season ends at 14-6 overall.
“We knew heading in that Cumberland Valley was fourth in the state all season long until the latest ranking, and that was because they lost in the districts to Hempfield, who is a legitimate contender,” Ashman said. “Once you get to this level, everyone is good.”
Shanahan cruised to wins in the first two sets, 25-16 and 25-16. But Cumberland Valley started strong in the third, opened an 18-12 lead and really pushed the two-time state finalists. Shanahan had to score 13 of the final 18 points to escape.
“We knew this could be our last match, but we worked hard to make sure it wasn’t,” said Shanahan sophomore middle blocker Maddie Rudolph.
With Coco Shultz, Cara’s younger sister, under the weather, Ashman decided to limit her play on Tuesday. That opened a spot for Maddie Kempski, and the senior rose to the occasion.
“We decided not to play Coco in the back row, so we put Maddie in and she is a tremendous defender and was big from the service line,” Ashman said.
“We have people more like that on our bench who are still going to contribute at some point.”
The 5-foot-4 Kempski delivered an ace coming out of a Shanahan timeout and down six, and sparked an 8-0 service run that featured another ace. Cara Shultz then delivered two kills and a dink to wrap it up.
“Cara is an amazing player but unlike a lot we are not a one-player team,” said Rudolph, who had seven kills and three blocks. “[Cumberland Valley] came back super strong, but we had Maddie Kempski and she was amazing bringing us back into it with her serves.”
The opening set was tied as late as 9-9, but Shanahan went on an 11-3 surge capped off by a run from Cara Shultz and her jump-serve. Rudolph had two kills and Shultz another to close it out.
Set No. 2 was similar, but Shanahan led wire-to-wire and finished with a flourish that included two kills by Coco Shultz, two aces from Cara Shultz and kills by Rudolph and Brooke Burns.
“Maddie came out of her shell tonight,” Ashman said.
When asked about his program’s postseason success, Ashman said that familiarity is important.
“It’s a huge advantage,” he said. “When we first made it to states, we were just so shocked about what went on in that atmosphere. That’s when we decided to take our JV kids to all of the playoffs.
“The kids that are seniors now, they’ve been sitting on that bench and seeing this atmosphere for four years. It makes a difference.”