The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery 2022 Girls Volleyball Preview
The fall sports season is here and the Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media area girls volleyball teams are ready to take the court.
The Suburban One League featured tight races in the Continental and American conferences last fall.
In the Continental, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South and North Penn tied atop the league with matching 9-3 records. Souderton was two games behind at 7-5, but returns nine varsity players. Central Bucks West and Pennridge both expect to improve on their 4-8 finishes. The Rams are a young team, led by captains junior Darby Nichols and sophomore Delaney Schwind.
Hatboro-Horsham won the American Conference at 11-1, just ahead of 10-2 Abington and 8-4 Plymouth Whitemarsh. Wissahickon has a new coach in Mitch Harris and will be implementing a new offensive attack and defensive formation.
Pope John Paul II figures to be near the top of the Pioneer Athletic Conference again. The Golden Rams, the defending District 1-3A champs, return eight players who saw playing time last year, including first team All-PAC Frontier Division selections Hutton Cordrey, Natalie Ricevuto and Grace Cooper. Methacton hopes to be in the mix for a PAC and District 1 playoff spot while Norristown rebuilds under first-year coach Kathleen Valentine.
In the Philadelphia Catholic League, Archbishop Wood and Archbishop Carroll were both solid in 2021. Wood went 8-2 and finished second in the league while Carroll went 7-3. The Vikings have an experienced squad with nine seniors, including libero Natalie Albin. The Patriots have a new coach in Val Wisner and hope to compete for a PCL title.
Faith Christian Academy looks to build off a successful 2021 season in which it went 10-0 in Bicentennial Athletic League player and reached the District 1 semifinals. The Lions have a mix of returning players and new faces.
In the Inter-Ac, Germantown Academy is bringing back its entire starting lineup hoping to finish what it started last year. The Patriots reached the PAISAA semifinals and lost in five sets. Senior Fiona McKenna, the runner-up Inter-AC MVP in 2021, leads a talented and deep roster with high expectations this fall.
Archbishop Carroll
Head coach: Val Wisner (1st year)
Last year: 7-3 PCL
Key returners: Molly Kelly, Maryrita Swope, Vicki Lehatto, Victoria Nocito
Season outlook: “This year I have already begun turning the program around to move in a positive and highly competitive direction. My expectations and standards for my girls have been set very high and they have been working hard to strive to achieve their competitive values. The Lady Pats have established a family oriented gym using their leadership skills and sportsman like attitudes within the first two days of preseason and have made a goal to take the PCL conference and championship. Regardless of any game outcome, the new attitude is to work hard, stay humble, and never give up. They have true athletic hearts that will shine.”
Archbishop Wood
Head coach: Tim Kilian (5th season)
Last year: 11-8, 8-2 PCL, PCL runner-up, District 12 third place, State qualifier
Notable losses: Hailey McDevitt
Key returners: Natalie Albin, Meghan Prior, Emily Knouse, Jane Candland, Tess Waltrich, Campbell McCloskey, Dani Narcissi
Season outlook: “We return a very experienced team (9 seniors) plus a strong group of juniors and sophomores. Natalie Albin is the best Libero in the area, and is a candidate for the PCL MVP. We have depth at all positions which means we will face great competition every day in practice. We expect to have a strong season, and think we can be playing into November.”
Central Bucks West
Head coach: Todd Miller (12th year)
Last year: 6-15, 4-8 SOL Continental
Notable losses: Sophia Ketner, Annika Huber
Key returners: Alexis Barklage, Rachel Hu, Caroline Taylor and Mackenzie Lund
Season outlook: “I expect major improvements this year over last year. We are older and a more experienced group, however we will need to focus on hard work to achieve our goals.”
Faith Christian Academy
Head Coach: Michelle Lehman (2nd year)
Last year: 17-5, 10-0 BAL, District 1 semifinals
Notable losses: Hannah Pringle, Yasmin Personett
Key returners: Aubrey Pringle
Season outlook: “We have some solid returners and a bunch of new faces joining us this year. Our team chemistry is amazing so far. The girls are working hard and ready to get out on the court to compete. We are all looking forward to the start of the season.”
Germantown Academy
Head Coach: Chuck Dougherty (2nd year)
Last year: 10-10 overall, 7-3 Inter-Ac, PAISAA semifinalist
Notable losses: Zoe Hersh, Emily Luo, Gurbani Chawla
Key returners: Fiona McKenna, OH Kaitlyn Pokorny, Ellie Smith, Angie Wang, Kate Stone, Ally DellaFranzia, Liv Reynolds, Caroline Smith
Season outlook: “With the entire starting lineup returning from last season’s team that fell 1 set short of competing for the State title, GA is focused on achieving their goal of winning the Inter AC league title and first ever PAISAA state championship. In addition to returning 2 All InterAC outside hitters, GA is fortunate to have 2 strong setters and a talented team of passers retuning. New Incoming freshman Nicole Ward and Bridget Flannery will join 9th graders from an undefeated GA middle school team (Abby Traina, Lexi Farnsworth, Kat Kou) to provide GA with an exceptionally deep team of talented young players.”
Hatboro-Horsham
Head coach: Jon Young (8th year)
Last year: 18-4, 11-1 SOL American, D1-3A 5th place
Notable losses: Grace Howard, Isabelle Bombas, Nastya Tsetsko, Maci Lumpkin, Ava Santo, Abigail Kosmalski
Key returners: Kayla Jones, Jade Lauzier, Elizabeth Morgan, Cassidy Hudson, Emma O’Reilly
Season outlook: “HH will look to continue to play at the highest level it’s capable of focusing on playing its best volleyball in the postseason.”
Methacton
Head Coach: Alex Notaristefano (2nd year)
Last year: 9-12, 6-7 PAC
Notable losses: Mel Eglinton, Meg Haftl, Madi Roth, Bianca Robinson, Claire Claudy
Key returners: Mandy Baldwin, Kayla Ginther, Halla Takyeldin, Mianna Ly, Emma Shaffer
Season outlook: “This year Methacton Volleyball will lean on its returning Varsity athletes Mandy Baldwin and Kayla Ginther to take on big responsibilities in the offense as well as the serve receive. They will be relied on for their play and their leadership on the court. The team will rely on defense and serve receive from returning players Mianna Ly and Halla Takyeldin to help junior setter Rachel Pettine who will take over as setter this year. The PAC is a very competitive league but we hope to be in the mix to make the PAC playoffs and return to the District playoffs as well.”
Norristown
Head coach: Kathleen Valentine (1st year)
Notable losses: Olivia Debiasio
Key returners: Azjiona Golston, Tanasia Ebo.
Season outlook: “This is a rebuilding season for the Eagles, with many new players. Keep an eye out for the Carter sisters Ariel (Sophomore) and Amiya (Freshman) as well as Senior Middle hitter JuJu Evans.”
Pennridge
Head coach: Brandon Johnson (7th year)
Last year: 7-13, 4-8 SOL Continental
Notable losses: Allison Saalfrank
Key returners: Paige Lipp, Samantha Lipp, Zoey Pennie, Nikki Rindone, Delaney Schwind, Caitlyn Kuntz, Melissa Hinkson, Shannon Leo
Season outlook: “The Lady Rams return a young core for the 2022 season and hope to improve after a tough 2021 season. The Rams will be led by team captains Darby Nichols (Junior, OH) and Delaney Schwind (Sophomore, Setter). The Rams will look to improve on last year’s 7-13 record with a more well-rounded team effort in 2022. Seniors Paige and Samantha Lipp will play big roles in the coming season, with Senior Middle Blocker Zoey Pennie looking to chip in at a new position. Sophomores Caitlyn Kuntz and Melissa Hinkson will play major roles on the pins, while Sophomore DS/Libero Shannon looks poised to contribute heavily defensively. If the Rams can keep their heads above water early in the season, they will look to be strongest heading into a late-season playoff push in 2022.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh
Head coach: David Stewart (18th Season)
Last year: 14-7, District 1 qualifier
Notable losses: Sophia Repholz, Caroline Melillo
Key returners: Neve Straff, Adriana Storti, Ryenn Mamrosch, Rylie Watton, Abby Swider, Natalie Small, Amanda Busk.
Season Outlook: “Plymouth Whitemarsh has a core group of experienced players and hopes to utilize that experience along with the addition of some younger talent to make a serious run at the league title as well as making some noise at the District 1 Championship level. PW is expecting to see results from the hard work already completed and its “ALL IN” mentality. Look for PW to climb the rankings this season!”
Pope John Paul II
Head coach: Ryan Sell (10th year)
Last year: 14-4
Notable losses: Erin Dychdala, Cathleen McKendry
Key returners: Hutton Cordrey, Maeve Frances Gallagher, Natalie Ricevuto, Grace Cooper, Madison Monahan, Ella Williams, Ashley Mitchell, Reece Benner
Season outlook: “We have a really solid group back this year. This includes 4 starters and 4 players who saw significant playing time. 2022 should be a very exciting year for Pope John Paul II volleyball team.”
Souderton
Head coach: Cori Watson (3rd year)
Last year: 12-10, 7-5 SOL Continental, District 1-3A qualifier
Notable losses: Alyssa Reiner
Key returners: McKenna Murawski, Alexa Mazzeo, Alli Sauerwald, Teya McConaha
Season outlook: “We have 9 returning varsity players this year. I expect Alexa Mazzeo to hold down our defense and for McKenna, Teya, and Alli to lead us at the net. We’ll rely on our varsity experience to earn us wins and build on the success we had last year.”
Wissahickon
Head coach: Mitch Harris (1st year)
Last year: 3-15, 2-9 SOL American
Notable losses: Emma Kershner, Jill Suchodolski, Gabriela Borges, Haley Drossner
Key returners: Alex Bladek, Sadie Paxson, Georgia Davis, Devon Szczepkowicz
Season outlook: “The Wissahickon Girls program has made a commitment both mental and physical to elevate their performance for the upcoming season. Led by a dedicated group of seniors, the team has worked hard in the preseason to implement both a new offensive attack and defensive formation. This fun loving team plays hard and is looking forward to competing at a high level against both in-conference and out-of-conference foes.”
