Reporter/Times Herald Area Girls Volleyball Preview

Pope John Paul II is back on the court, and it will be a new but promising start for the defending District 1-3A Champs.

“We will be replacing almost every starter this year so we will look different,” coach Ryan Sell said. “I think we will still be able to compete at a high level with anyone in District 1. We are looking forward to getting back to having a full schedule after our very short year last year. I’m looking forward to seeing how we improve from start to finish.”  

Hatboro-Horsham should also be a team to watch in 2021, led in part by Nastya Tsetko, a senior outside hitter who forces every defense to account for her.

“We look to continue our consecutive championship success in the (Suburban One League) American (Conference) as we’ve done in the past three years,” coach Jon Young said, “but the team is more focused on not only continuing to contend with the top teams in the district, but also to further its campaign into competing at the state level in 2021.
“We will look to compete at the absolute highest level we can.”

Pennridge went through the regular season unbeaten a year ago.

“The expectations for the Rams continue to be high after back-to-back successful campaigns in Suburban One,” coach Brandon Johnson said. “With a young roster around the experienced core group, the Rams will try to progress to be playing their best volleyball at the end of the season in 2021. 

“If the team can weather the early storm of a difficult start to the schedule, they hope to compete with anyone in Suburban One.”

Following is a team-by-team look at the area.

ABINGTON
Coach: Dan Marsh.
Last year’s record: 6-6.
Key performers lost: Liv Guare, Allison Rice.
Key returners: Izzy Reilly, Sr., Setter; Kenya Lucas, Jr., OH; Lila Stonehouse, Sr., OH; Sara Boykin, Sr., MH; Emilie Zuccato, Sr., RS; Sophia Ermigotti, Sr., DS; Erika Knapp, Sr., DS; Iris Winegrad, So., Libero.
Others to watch: Shayla Moody, Jr., MH; Mary Carter, Fr., DS; Sasha Moody, Fr., OH.
Strengths/Question Marks: With two strong outside hitters and a first-team, all-league setter, Abington should be able to throw a decent attack at opponents. A strong schedule and sometimes inconsistent passing will be the things Abington needs to overcome.
Coach Marsh said: “With eight returning varsity players, Abington looks to compete in the SOL and try to make some noise in the district playoffs. Looking forward to a fun season.”

DOCK MENNONITE
Coach: Taylor McKenney.
Key performers lost: Olivia Mercure; Elyssa Bochnowicz; Taylor Drummond.
Key returners: Adelyn Clemmer, So.; Melissa Moyer, Sr.; Maddy Lewis, Sr.; Emily Irvin, Jr.
Outlook for the season: The Pioneers have plenty of experience back and that should be key come postseason time.

HATBORO-HORSHAM
Coach: Jon Young (seventh season).
Last year’s record: 11-1 overall, 10-0 SOL American.
Key returners: Nastya Tsetsko, Sr., OH; Kayla Jones, Jr., OH; Jade Lauzier, Jr., Middle; Isabelle Bombas, Sr., Middle; Grace Howard, Sr., Setter/OH; Maci Lumpkin, Sr., DS.
Others to watch: Cassidy Hudson, So.; Elizabeth Morgan, Jr.
Strengths: The Hatters return four starting attackers ranging from 5-11 to 6-1 as well as a setter that is profound in running an offense in Grace Howard. The team will bring a consistently aggressive approach to all aspects of the game as it’s been established as in previous years.
Question marks: Hatboro graduated four DS’s and two setteers, including notable names such as Jess Howard (L), Jenna Robinson (DS) and Maddy Murphy (S). In essence, the program will replace its whole receiving and defensive core as well as five out of six of its starting servers. In doing so, the HH development program will be tested to develop a team approach to serve receive, defense, and serving as it’s relied on foundational pieces for the last three years.

LANSDALE CATHOLIC
Coach: Rachel Picozzi (second season).
Key performers lost: Regan Quigley; Tori Rogge; Emma Lewis.
Key returners: Emily Greene, Sr.; Grace Picozzi, Sr.
Outlook for the season: The Crusaders lost some quality seniors but have a solid player in Greene and a versatile athlete in Picozzi.

NORTH PENN
Coach: Scott Coles.
Key returners: Charlotte Patterson, Sr., Setter; Riley Gilmer, Outside Hitter; Holly Kopp, Libero/DS; Olivia Quallet, Sr., DS; Gianna Gabriele, DS/Libero; Linden Wagenhoffer, Middle Hitter; Kayla Sucro, Middle Hitter/DS; Kiley McTaggart, Jr.; Kate Hanley, Sr., Outside Hitter.
Outlook for the season: A strong group of seniors and balance throughout the roster should make the Knights a force in the SOL Continental.

PENNRIDGE
Coach: Brandon Johnson (sixth season).
Last year’s record: The Rams won the Continental Conference with a 13-0 regular season record. The Rams lost to Upper Dublin in Round 1 of the District Playoffs.
Key performers lost: The Rams lost 10 senior contributors from last season, including Middle Blocker Julia Post who committed to Kutztown University. 
Key returners: Allison Saalfrank, Sr., Libero; Meghan Cunningham, Sr., Outside Hitter; Carly Garis, Sr., OH; Colette Paterson, Sr., MH.
Others to watch: Zoey Pennie, Jr., OH; Mia Smith, Sr., RS.
Strengths/Question Marks: The Rams only return five players from last year’s conference championship team but will look to their core senior group to lead them heading into the season. Senior Allison Saalfrank will transition back to her Libero position as a senior and will be critical in anchoring the team’s back line. The Rams will look to Senior Hitters Carly Garis, Colette Paterson, and Meghan Cunningham to stabilize a young roster heading into the 2021 season. 

PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH
Coach: David Stewart (second season).
Key performers lost: Aja Smith, Jordan O’Brien.
Key returners: Sophia Repholz, Sr.; Neve Straff, Jr.; Rylie Watton, Jr.; Adriana Storti, Jr.; Caroline Melillo, Sr.
Outlook for the season: A strong returning nucleus should put PW right in the thick of things in the SOL American.

POPE JOHN PAUL II
Coach: Ryan Sell (10th season).
Last year’s record: 10-1.
Key performers lost: Lexi McMonagle; Rosalie Lucci; Lauren Phillips; Caroline Regan; Chelsea Harvey; Hanna Tulli; Isabella Ricevuto; Jessie Donovan; Heather Lesinski.
Key returners: Ella Williams, Jr., MH; Bella Honick, Jr., DS; Hutton Cordrey, So., OH/DS; Zoe George, Sr., MH; Ashley Mitchell, Jr., MH; Natalie Ricevuto, So., OH/DS; Kristina Rist, Sr., DS; Cindy Jin, So., Setter/Libero/DS; Grace Cooper, Jr., Libero/DS; Gabriella Cooper, So., Libero/DS; Madison Monahan, So., Setter/RS; Lindsay Arezina, Jr., OH/MH/RS; Juliann Raftery, Sr., S/DS; Elizabeth Beehler, Jr., OH/RS/DS; Cathleen McKendry, Sr., OH/RS/DS; Erin Dychdala, Sr., Setter.

SOUDERTON
Coach: Cori Watson (second season).
Key performers lost: Olivia Horas, Maddy McCarthy, Grace Petersen.
Key returners: Alyssa Reiner, Sr.; McKenna Murawski, So.; Gwen Anderson, Jr.
Outlook for the season: Big Red lost seven seniors to graduation but have enough key pieces to be in the hunt in the SOL

UPPER DUBLIN
Coach: Paul Choi (ninth season).
Last year’s record: 8-5.
Key performers lost: Annie Faust, L; Emily Senior, MH; Maggie Faust, OH.
Key returners: Sammy Silver, Sr., DS; Lauren Howie, Sr., DS; Casey Broderick, Sr., OH; Charlotte Qi, Sr., OH; Erica Stelling, Sr., M; Sarah Randall, Sr., S.
Others to watch: Reese Mackey, So., OH; Eleanor Blough, So., OH; Shanley Joyce, Fr., M.
Coach Choi said: “We are an inexperienced and young team looking to build with every match that we get. We will continue to rely on our defensive presence to frustrate our opponents. We hope to compete with the best and see if we can continue our tradition of making the playoffs.” 

WILLIAM TENNENT
Coach: Brian Bassler (17th season).
Key performers lost: Mackenzie Clee; Brianna Zysk; Sarah Cummins; Julia Booz.
Key returners: Meredith Johnston, Sr., outside hitter; Maggie McGlynn, Sr., DS/Libero; Julia Richard, Sr., DS/Libero; Charlotte Reeves, Jr., Middle Hitter.
Outlook for the season: The Panthers should challenge for a lot of victories in the SOL National.