Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media 2022 Boys Volleyball Preview: Pennridge looks to defend District 1-3A title
The Pennridge boys volleyball team returned to top spot in District 1-3A last season, claiming its first district title since 2017 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the PIAA tournament.
While all-state outside hitter Ryan Benscoter is now at Sacred Heart, the Rams are ready to stay among the area’s elite in 2022 with a side that brings back a pair of All-District 1 seniors in setter Riley Kodidek (first team) and middle hitter Tyler Johnson (second team).
“With Riley Kodidek, we have one of the better setters around,” said Pennridge coach Dave Childs, now is his 18th season. “He is surrounded by a strong senior core. We also gained valuable experience with last season’s District One and state playoff runs.”
Upper Dublin edged the Rams for the SOL American Conference crown and finished second in districts. Souderton was just behind UD and Pennridge in the conference standings are aiming to making a push towards the top.
“We are looking to improve on our finish from last year,” Souderton coach Luke Pinto said. “We have some key returning players and have a ton of talent, but not a ton of experience. Our motto this year will be, ‘hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.’ It is a great group of guys and I am excited to see what they are capable of this year!”
North Penn missed out district last year but will try to return to the postseason under first-year coach Eric Headley with a rotation that includes all-conference first-team setter Brian Landes.
In the SOL National, both Abington and William Tennent looking to play into conference contention after winning district first-round matches last year.
Dock Mennonite is out to make a deeper state run after reaching the PIAA-2A tournament with a second-place finish in the District 1/2/11 tournament.
La Salle has dominated the Philadelphia Catholic League in recent seasons, the Explorers claiming their fifth straight league title last year. Lansdale Catholic is young but is set on improving after just one win in 2021.
“Strength of the team is how quickly they have been improving, getting better each week,” LC coach Rachael Picozzi said. “Last season was the first time most of the guys had ever played competitive volleyball and they have come a long way since then. Our inexperience overall has consistently been one of the things we continue to work on but that will benefit us in the long run.”
Abington
Coach: Jason Barshinger (first season).
League: Suburban One League National Conference.
District-Class: 1-3A.
Last Season: 9-12, (5-9 conference), lost to Council Rock North in District 1-3A quarterfinals.
Key Losses: Sean Dougherty (Springfield College), Bryce Lexow, Sam Miller, Leo Presta, Sebastian Skenderi (Drexel-club).
Top Returners: Jake Kosik (Sr., defensive specialist), Pat McBride (Sr., defensive specialist), Zach Miller (Junior, outside hitter), Myles Winegrad (Sr., opposite).
Others to Watch: Joseph Clark (Sr., middle hitter), Dominic DaSilva (Sr., opposite), Ben Holler (Sr., outside hitter), Michael Lyou (Sr., middle hitter), Colin Mulvihill (Sr., setter), Xavier Voit (Sr., middle hitter).
Outlook: Miller and Holler along with Voit and Winegrad are among the options in the attack for setter Mulvihill as the Galloping Ghosts aim to compete in the SOL National after knocking off conference rival Bensalem in last year’s district first round. Kosik and McBride will both be key players for Abington at defensive specialist and libero.
“In most situations when a team graduates the majority of their starters, there tends to be a rebuild,” Barshinger said. “This group has worked hard in the off-season to prepare themselves for success on the court this season. Our team goal will always be to strive to be the best, and become the best version of ourselves in the process. The team possesses the ability to compete at a high level, yet there is room for growth that will only come with more reps and playing experience.
Dock Mennonite
Coach: Kirby King
League: Independent League.
District-Class: 1-2A.
Last Season: Second place District 1/2/11-2A regional, lost to York Suburban in PIAA-2A first round.
Key Losses: Rey Ramos, Jacob Schriener, Logan Gillespie.
Top Returners: Alex Yoo (Sr., libero), Tristan Blum (Sr., middle blocker), Lane Bergey (Jr., setter), Anthony Bernardo (Jr., outside hitter), Sean Gillespie (Jr., outside hitter), Trey Leatherman (Jr., defensive specialist).
Others to Watch: Tyler Derstein (Jr., middle blocker), Cameron LeSuer (So., outside hitter).
Outlook: The Pioneers are not only aiming at a return to the PIAA-2A tournament but bettering last year’s first-round appearance.
“I think this team has a great chance to meet our goal of going deeper into States,” King said. “We began our match schedule Saturday with a tri-match. We won our first match against CB West 3-0 and won our second match against AA district rival Holy Redeemer 3-0. This week we began our league play with Lower Merion and continued our winning streak with another 3-0 victory. I am proud of how much work this team has done and how they have come together as a team.”
Lansdale Catholic
Coach: Rachael Picozzi (third season).
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District-Class: 12-2A.
Last Season: 1-17.
Key Losses: Dean Corrado.
Top Returners: Liam Collins (Sr., setter), Ryan Freer (Sr., middle), Justin McQuaite (So., outside).
Others to Watch: Anthony Lewis (So., libero), Michael Duffy (So., right side), Danny Shelak (So., middle), CJ Hackett (Jr., middle), Will Kelly (Sr., defensive specialist/outside hitter).
Outlook: The Crusaders are young but with a group of sophomores more experienced with the game after last year’s one-win season, LC is looking to making a push for contention in the Catholic League. Freer, an All-PCL first-team pick last year, is working to get back from a broken left wrist with the Crusaders also helped by Collins returning at setter.
North Penn
Coach: Eric Headley (first season).
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-3A.
Last Season: 7-12 (5-9 conference).
Key Losses: Billy Dooney, Jacob An.
Top Returners: Brian Landes (Sr., setter), Aaron Foulke (Sr., middle), Aiden Greene (Sr., outside hitter), Verdant Patel (Sr., outside hitter), Rayhan Islam (Sr., defensive specialist).
Others to Watch: Caleb An (Jr., middle), Josh Kim (Jr., setter), Ryan Haung (Jr., defensive specialist), Sion Yeo (Jr., opposite).
Outlook: After missing district last season, the Knights are light on experience in their first season under Headley but do return all-conference selections Landes (first team) and Foulke (honorable mention).
“We’re relatively inexperienced at a Varsity level with only 4 returning Varsity participants from 2021,” Headley said. “We also do not have a ton of players who actively participated in travel ball this winter. So utilizing what experience we do have and mixing in junior players who are fast and learning the game, we hope to be a defensively scrappy team with a lot of energy and possibly surprise some folks.”
Pennridge
Coach: Dave Childs (18th season).
League: SOL American Conference).
District-Class: 1-3A.
Last Season: 18-3 (12-2 conference), District 1-3A champion, lost to Central Dauphin in PIAA-3A quarterfinals.
Key Losses: Ryan Benscoter (Sacred Heart), Dan Detweiler, Bryce Muller, Skyler Ammon.
Top Returners: Riley Kodidek (Sr., setter), Tyler Johnson (Sr., middle hitter), Nick Smith (Sr., middle hitter), Alex Derk (Sr., libero), Thomas McKinney (Jr., outside hitter).
Others to Watch: Jason McCreary (Jr., opposite), Gavin Tirjan (Jr., hitter), Gavin Stayer (Jr., middle hitter), Ty Porter (Jr., defense), Jude Rotondo (So., outside hitter), Aaron Ladd (So., outside hitter), Bryce Ammon (Fr., opposite).
Outlook: The Rams claimed their first district title since 2017 and while they graduated all-state outside hitter Benscoter Pennridge still has a squad ready to again make noise in the district. Kodidek earned All-District 1 first-team honors at setters last year while Johnson was a district second-team pick at middle hitter.
“We have a number of young players who will be filling significant roles,” Childs said. “Their development will play a big part in our success.”
Souderton
Coach: Luke Pinto (fourth season).
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-3A.
Last Season: 14-7 (10-4 conference), lost to Neshaminy in District 1-3A quarterfinals.
Key Losses: Aidan Wunderly (Alvernia).
Top Returners: Andrew Brown (Sr., middle), Nate Brown (Jr., outside hitter).
Others to Watch: Levi Leatherman (So., setter), Derek Gilmore (Jr., middle), Alec Kreiser (Jr., libero).
Outlook: The Indians are out to stay at the top of the SOL American after placing third behind conference champ Upper Dublin and Pennridge a year ago. Nate Brown earned third-team all-district at setter in 2021 while Andrew Brown was an all-conference honorable mention selection.
William Tennent
Coach: Jim Creighton (15th season).
League: SOL National Conference.
District-Class: 1-3A.
Last Season: 10-7 (6-4 conference), lost to Upper Dublin in District 1-3A quarterfinals.
Key Losses: Michael Carr (Arcadia), Ben Weir (soccer, Ursinus).
Top Returners: Jack Stelien (Sr., outside hitter/middle hitter), Jason Layer (Sr., outside hitter), Paul Nedeoglo (Sr., setter), Cody Kenny (Sr., libero), Connor Fleming (Sr., opposite), Kirby Mooney (So., middle hitter).
Others to Watch: Michael Catelli (Sr., middle hitter), Anthony Buono (Jr., defensive specialist), Joseph Vasilevskiy (Jr., outside hitter), Connor Tucholski (Jr., opposite).
Outlook: Stelien and Layer are back after both earned SOL National honorable mention in 2021. Tennent returns six starters with a strong junior group helping the Panthers’ depth.
“We will benefit from the experience of our returning players and the excitement of our underclassman,” Creighton said. “We look forward to the opportunity to compete within the SOL National and District One. Our expectations are to improve on our finish from last season within both the league and district and reach our full potential as a team.”
