Presenting 2019 All-Main Line girls’ volleyball teams

The Main Line typically fields a deep lineup of strong high school girls’ volleyball teams every fall, and 2019 was no exception.
Academy of Notre Dame (18-3) captured its seventh consecutive PAISAA state championship and was Inter-Ac co-champions, the sixth time in the past seven years that the Irish earned at least a piece of the league crown.
Villa Maria Academy (20-3) finished second in the District 1 3A tournament, and advanced to the PIAA Class 3A state quarterfinals before falling to District 11 champion and PIAA state finalist Southern Lehigh.
Archbishop Carroll captured its fourth consecutive Catholic League crown, and won its fourth straight PIAA District 12 4A title.
Other strong Main Line girls’ volleyball teams included Agnes Irwin (13-5), Baldwin School (12-8), Lower Merion (13-6, third place in Central League) and Sacred Heart (13-10, third place AACA, District 1/12 Class A champions).
The All-Main Line high school girls’ volleyball teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.
What follows are the 2019 All-Main Line high school girls’ volleyball teams:

FIRST TEAM
Riley Shaak, Academy of Notre Dame – The 6-foot-3 senior co-captain was selected as one of the top 150 girls’ high school volleyball players in the United States as an Honorable Mention to the Under Armour Girls High School All-America Teams, one of three Pa. high school players picked. Finished the season with 1,067 kills and was the first player in the history of the Inter Ac League to be honored as the Most Valuable Player.
Maddie Donaphon, Academy of Notre Dame – Senior libero, a first team All-Inter-Ac pick, came up with more than 1,000 digs, including 31 digs in Notre Dame’s first-ever win over Villa Maria and 27 digs in the PAISAA state finals. The Northeastern University-bound senior is considered a master at reading the attack before the ball is contacted to move to the point where the ball is hit, and is noted as the best placement server on the Notre Dame team.
Christine Colvello, Academy of Notre Dame – Junior setter, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, is noted by Notre Dame head coach Mike Sheridan as “consistently able to set shoot, quicks and 3s better than any setter I’ve had at Notre Dame.”
Mara Zwilling, Agnes Irwin – Senior outside hitter and co-captain, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection for the second year in a row, was also the Owls’ MVP for the second consecutive year. Led the team in kills, and was among the team leaders in digs and serving efficiency.
Dayna Thomas, Agnes Irwin – Senior setter and second-year co-captain, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection for the second year in a row, was a standout ball distributor (dished out 476 assists) and an efficient server.
Paige Monastero, Archbishop Carroll – Senior outside hitter, a two-time Catholic League Most Valuable Player award winner, and a three-time Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association (PVCA) all-state selection, produced 382 kills and 185 digs this fall. The West Chester University-bound senior closed her career as the program leader in kills (1,376).
Meghan McCann, Archbishop Carroll – Junior outside hitter, a two-time first team All-Catholic League pick and a repeat PVCA Class 4A all-state selection, was a fine all-around performer for the Catholic League and District 12 champions, producing 407 kills, 315 digs, 42 aces and 96 assists this fall.
Tessa Pearlstein, Baldwin School – Junior middle hitter, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, was a strong presence in the middle for the Polar Bears, leading the team with 192 kills and recording 48 blocks.
Lillian Caldwell, Conestoga – Sophomore outside hitter, a first team All-Central League selection and All-District 1 4A honorable mention, was the Pioneers’ MVP, leading the team in both kills (144) and aces (44) and was second in digs (176).
Laila Newborn, Lower Merion – Sophomore middle hitter, a second team All-Central pick and All-District 1 honorable mention selection, set a team record for blocks (79), and was a fine all-around performer (75 kills, .291 hitting percentage, 34 aces) for a strong LM squad.
Hannah Martinson, Sacred Heart – Senior setter, a two-time PVCA all-state selection, is the Lions’ all-time career assist leader with 2,239. An AACA all-star, she dished out 610 assists this fall, along with 195 digs, 79 aces and 80 kills.
Alivia Orvieto, Villa Maria Academy – Senior libero/setter and co-captain was an all-state libero in 2018, then three weeks into the 2019 campaign was moved to setter, and was the Hurricanes’ MVP, as well as a PVCA 3A all-state selection and an All-AACA and All-District 1 3A pick once again.
Katie Scaggs, Villa Maria Academy – Senior middle hitter and co-captain, a PVCA all-state selection once again as well as a repeat All-District 1 3A and All-AACA pick, recorded 27 blocks, 28 aces and 92 kills for powerful Hurricane squad.

SECOND TEAM
Academy of Notre Dame – Grace Guerin, junior middle blocker; Sara McDougall, senior outside hitter.
Agnes Irwin – Colby Yoh, junior middle hitter.
Baldwin School – Elise Kait, junior libero; Olivia Stratton, junior setter.
Harriton – Yazmyn Stewart, senior outside hitter.
Lower Merion – Abiah Lane, sophomore outside hitter; Sara Beqiraj, junior setter; Talia Bierschwale, junior libero.
Sacred Heart – Erin Corcoran, junior outside hitter.
Villa Maria Academy – Erin Keaveney, junior right side/setter; Alessia Giannandrea, junior outside hitter.

HONORABLE MENTION
Academy of Notre Dame – Ciara Hibbs, senior defensive specialist; Keegan Bradley, junior right side hitter.
Agnes Irwin – Golda Mehl, sophomore outside hitter; Avery Seibert, junior middle hitter; Jenna Zwilling, sophomore libero.
Baldwin School – Anajah Brown, junior middle hitter; Ryan Shelton, freshman opposite hitter.
Conestoga – Lulu Coll, junior libero; Claire Richmond, sophomore setter/right side; Carli Trudel, sophomore middle hitter; Natalie Wright, sophomore middle hitter; Allie Broz, junior outside hitter.
Haverford High – Emily Scott, senior middle blocker; Cara Fredericks, junior libero.
Lower Merion – Adi David, senior setter; Jamie Eldridge, junior right side hitter; Claire Hamilton, freshman outside hitter.
Merion Mercy Academy – Jessica Sack, sophomore outside hitter; Gabrielle Brignola, junior outside hitter/middle blocker.
Radnor – Josie Darrach, junior outside hitter/setter; Lucy Criscuolo, junior outside hitter.
Sacred Heart – Bella O’Toole, sophomore libero/outside hitter; Macie Moresco, freshman outside hitter; Emily McKenna, freshman middle blocker.

Shipley – Liv Tirjan, sophomore middle hitter.

Villa Maria Academy – Olivia Karkenny, senior outside hitter; Amelia Collins, senior middle hitter.