Bounce back: Villa Maria looks strong in sweep of Gwynedd Mercy
Malvern >> The Villa Maria Academy volleyball squad played one of its better games of the season in defeating Gwynedd Mercy, 3-0, Wednesday.
“I think we played better today than we have been,” said Villa Maria head coach Peggy Evans. “Emotionally, I think this team is starting to come together….This is a great team, and we’ve overcome a lot of things.”
Evans took a leave of absence from coaching Villa Maria volleyball last year, from September through the end of the 2020 girls’ volleyball season, as her husband, Jeff Ostrowski, passed away last November. Burgess Hoff served as the Villa Maria volleyball head coach for the 2020 season, and is now the associate head coach of the Hurricane squad. Evans returned as Villa Maria volleyball head coach this past summer.
“The girls are trying to rally, [both] for me and for one another, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Evans.
The Hurricanes’ win Wednesday improved their record to 9-3. Prior to the victory, they were ranked No. 2 in the PIAA District 1 3A division.
On Tuesday, the Hurricanes lost a tough match to a strong Bishop Shanahan squad, 3-2. Evans liked the way Villa Maria battled the Eagles, who are currently ranked No. 3 in PIAA District 1 4A, throughout the match.
“When you lose a match like that, but you’re leaving it all on the court, I’ll take those kind of losses all the time,” said Evans. “The girls played well together, and I think it’s the start of (pause)….you’ve got to peak at the right time. It’s a good start for us for peaking at the right time.”
In the opening set against Gwynedd Wednesday, Villa Maria got out to a 9-0 lead, then closed strongly on some strong hitting down the stretch from junior setter Gabriele Konrad and sophomore outside hitter Alana Whitwell.
In the second set, the Hurricanes maintained a small lead early, and led 13-9 midway through the game, but pulled away with a 12-2 run, including kills from sophomore outside hitter/right side Gillian Keaveney and freshman middle hitter Maeve Gallagher.
For the Hurricanes, who won the third set 25-22, Konrad, Whitwell, Keaveney and Gallagher combined for 24 kills in the three-set win Wednesday.
Villa Maria features a lineup of solid underclassmen, including Konrad, Whitwell, Keaveney, Gallagher, junior middle hitter Ciara Bradley and versatile junior Ava Goryl. Senior libero Skylar Kelly is the Hurricanes’ defensive leader.
Konrad and Goryl each dished out 13 assists Wednesday, and Konrad added nine kills.
“Gaby converted from outside hitter to setter last year, but because Ava can set, Gaby’s able to play some in the front row,” said Evans. “Ava can play well at whatever position we ask her to play; she’s selfless, she’ll do whatever we ask to help the team, and she does it well.”
Whitwell, Keaveney and Gallagher each tallied five kills Wednesday. Gallagher also added four aces.
“Alana can just get up and hit the ball really hard,” said Evans. “Gillian can jump and she’s got good hands, she’s someone who we can put outside, right side, wherever we might need her. Maeve is strong and smart.”
Kelly, the Hurricanes’ leader this season in digs, came up with 10 digs Wednesday, and Konrad added five more.
Bradley made some important contributions to the Hurricanes’ victory as well.
“Ciara has a lot of enthusiasm, can get up and put the ball down, and we rely on her a lot for blocking too,” said Evans.
The Hurricanes have a series of tough battles coming up, with Garnet Valley on Saturday, Conestoga on Oct. 13, Pope John Paul II Oct. 14 and Unionville Oct 18. Villa Maria’s Senior Night match will be Oct. 11 against Sacred Heart Academy.
NOTES: Hurricane assistant volleyball coach Carly Ostrowski is the daughter of Peggy Evans, and is a graduate of Villa Maria Academy (Class of 2017) and Franklin & Marshall College, where she played volleyball for Mary Kate Salko, the daughter of former Villa Maria volleyball head coach Joe Boland.
