High School Girls Volleyball: Team-by-team preview
Boyertown
Head coach: Mike Ludwig, seventh season
Last year’s record: 6-8 PAC, 10-12 overall
Athletes to watch: Ava Hurter, Soph., OH/RS; Ariana Deleon, Jr., DS; Abby Dornblaser, Jr., OH/RS; Sydney Scheck, Jr., S; Kyra Neiswender, Jr., DS; Madelyn Weaver, Jr., M; Jenna Christman, Jr., S; Lauren McKeon, Jr., OH/M/RS; Hailey Jones, Sr., OH/RS; Sabrina Falzone, Sr., DS; Molly Mullarkey, Jr., DS; Kiera Wolfe, Jr., M; Peyton Hartline, Sr., DS.
Outlook: While Boyertown graduated All-Mercury standouts in Carly Little and Chloe Wolfe, the Bears return a strong core of juniors filling multiple positions. Sydney Scheck is a primary setter with Ava Hurter and Hailey Jones providing strong service at the line.
“The strength of our team is our balance. We have multiple players who can play multiple positions,” Ludwig said. “This team has a lot of fight and determination which will lead to positive results on the court.”
Methacton
Head coach: Alex Notaristefano, third season
Last year’s record: 11-3 PAC, Liberty champion, 16-4 overall, District 1-4A first round
Athletes to watch: Kayla Ginther, Sr., OH; Rachel Pettine, Sr., S; Mianna Ly, Jr., L; Emma Shaffer, Sr., OH; Jacque Rizzuto, Sr., OH/DS.
Outlook: On the heels of PAC Final Four and District 1-4A tournament appearances, the Warriors return a trove of upperclassmen talent. Two-year captain Kayla Ginther is a first team All-Mercury outside hitter with Emma Shaffer shouldering some of the offense opposite her. Rachel Pettine will steer Methacton’s offense as the primary setter.
Mianna Ly is second team All-PAC in her second year starting at libero. Jacque Rizzuto will play a new hybrid role between outside hitting and defensive specialist.
Norristown
Head coach: Kathleen Valentine, second season
Last year’s record: 0-14 PAC, 0-19 overall
Athletes to watch: Amiya Carter, Soph., S; Ariel Carter, Jr., OH; Safi Jalloh, Jr., L; Adrianna Golston-Witter, Soph., RS.
Outlook: Most of the Eagles were playing for the first time last year, and worked this offseason to develop new skills. Many with varsity experience return from last year’s squad. Chief among them are sisters Amiya and Ariel Carter, who played club for TNT for the first time and are bringing leadership on and off the court to Norristown this season.
“Our athletic abilities will be very apparent to our opponents. We have a really great group of players who work well together on the court and one year under their belt playing together,” Valentine said.
Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Ken Hunt, second season
Last year’s record: 9-7 PAC, 11-9 overall, District 1-4A First round
Athletes to watch: Meghan Touhey, Sr., OH; Emma Finger, Soph., L; Maddie Reese, Fr., M; Sarah Mominey, Sr., S; Samantha Everson, Soph., M; Malin Jordan, Jr., OH.
Outlook: The Wildcats reached the District 1 postseason for just the first time in program history last season. And while there are many newcomers, Owen J. Roberts returns much of the core that brought the program to new heights last fall.
Senior Meghan Touhey was an All-Mercury outside hitter last year and Emma Finger was a second team libero. The Wildcats notably graduated Katie Arcara, an All-Mercury first team senior last year now playing at Dickinson College.
“The goal is to continue developing the program and raising the standard,” Hunt said. “Last year was great, but we have bigger goals to achieve. Our mindset is to stay hungry and play hard.”
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Colleen Boyle, first season
Last year’s record: 10-4 PAC, 16-9 overall, PAC Final Four, District 1-4A second round
Athletes to watch: Lola Coulter, Jr., OH; Emily Chung, Sr., S.
Outlook: While the Vikings lost some firepower with the graduation of standout Naomi Clauhs, Perkiomen Valley has strong hitters and depth in its defensive positions.
The Vikings made the PAC Final Four last year, but Perkiomen Valley has never reached the league title match, being eliminated by Pope John Paul II in four of its five semifinal appearances.
Colleen Boyle takes over as head coach of the program with an experienced group to work with.
“We just need to stay positive and stick together as a team,” Boyle said. “It starts with communication and confidence in yourself and those around you.”
Phoenixville
Head coach: Mike Lantzy, sixth season
Last year’s record: 5-10 PAC, 6-12 overall
Athletes to watch: Kristin Brown, Jr., OH; Kailey Hudy, Soph., S; Gianna Bruce, Fr., L.
Outlook: The Phantoms continue to build a strong hitting corps. around second-year setter Kailey Hudy. Those hitters are largely upperclassmen, while talented libero Gianna Bruce will anchor the unit as a freshman.
We look to improve on last year’s record and challenge ourselves to finish with a winning record this year. This year’s team is one of the strongest Phoenixville has produced.
Pope John Paul II
Head coach: Ryan Sell, 11th season
Last year’s record: 15-0 PAC, PAC champion, Frontier champion, District 1-3A champion, PIAA 3A champion, 27-0 overall
Athletes to watch: Cindy Jin, Sr., DS; HuttonCordrey, Sr., OH; Norah Busch, Soph., M; Maeve Gallagher, Jr., OH; Madison Monahan, Sr., S; Natalie Ricevuto, Sr., OH; Gabriella Cooper, Sr., DS.
Outlook: It’s undeniable. The Golden Panthers have been the gold standard, but an undefeated season – capped by the program’s first state title over WPIAL power North Catholic – took the already high bar and launched it up to the clouds.
Even with six stellar seniors graduated – highlighted by first team All-Mercury libero Grace Cooper – Pope John Paul II returns a vast bulk of its talent in the pursuit of another PIAA crown. Outside hitter Hutton Cordrey spearheads a loaded offense along with Maeve Gallagher and Natalie Ricevuto. Madison Monahan is the primary setter with Cindy Jin and Gabriella Cooper as defensive specialists.
The Pope John Paul II defense was near impenetrable last fall. With only nine sets dropped all year, just four were in the regular season. Two more were dropped against North Catholic in the state final, the match being one of two five-setters for the Golden Panthers all season.
Since the start of the PAC girls volleyball championships in 2013, Pope John Paul II has amassed seven titles. From local heavyweight to state powerhouse, managing the pressure of expectations will be a main theme for 2023.
“The biggest question mark for us will be how do we handle the high expectations of the team,” Sell said. “We had a lot of really good people graduate last year and they did a lot of really good things on and off of the court.”
Pottsgrove
Head coach: Jaime Reinhart, seventh season
Last year’s record: 3-12 PAC, 7-13 overall
Athletes to watch: Avery Gleason, Sr., OH; Rylie Eisenhard, Soph., MB; Raelyn Eisenhard, Sr., S/RS.
Outlook: With seven returning players with varsity experience and five newcomers, the Falcons enter the fall with a sizable rotation. Rylie Eisenhard made All-PAC second team as a freshman middle last year. Outside hitter Avery Gleason has been a scoring threat the past three years for Pottsgrove, and will be again as a senior. Raelyn Eisenhard at setter/right side hitter will also play a major role within the unit.
“As usual, we have a very competitive schedule, and we are hoping to improve our record from last season and compete against teams we didn’t get to see last year,” Reinhart said. “Many members of our team have played club volleyball and have increased their volleyball IQ in the off season, which will help us be more competitive this season. We have an amazing group of girls with a lot of heart.”
Pottstown
Head coach: Beth Yoder, first season
Last year’s record: 0-7 overall
Athletes to watch: Tara Morgan, Sr.; Triniti Rhodes-Fisher, Soph.; Malaysia WIlliams, Jr.; Emma Allan, Fr.
Outlook: The Trojans are entering just their second season as a program. The 2023 season will be one for continuing to build Pottstown’s foundation.
Spring-Ford
Head coach: George Fuller, second season
Last year’s record: 10-4 PAC, 12-9 overall, District 1-4A second round
Athletes to watch: Lauren Angelucci, Jr., OH; Dannica Fuller, Sr., S; Lila Olsen, Soph., OH.
Outlook: With a loaded senior class of five letter winners, followed with a second-round appearance in the District 1 tournament, the Rams enter the season with a bevy of experienced upperclassmen. Spring-Ford narrowly missed the PAC Final Four last year, being on the wrong end of a tiebreaker to Perkiomen Valley. Outside hitter Lauren Angelucci and setter Dannica Fuller make for an All-Mercury second team battery this fall.
“The experience and composure from this group of athletes will be what drives us this season,” Fuller said.
Upper Merion
Head coach: Tony Funsten, 30th season
Last year’s record: 12-3 PAC, PAC runner-up, Frontier Division runner-up, sixth place in District 1-4A, 25-9 overall
Athletes to watch: Sophia Schweikert, Jr., OH; Yalerie Acevedo, Sr., OH; Raven Albrecht, Jr., setter; Sydney Bright, Jr., RS.
Outlook: There’s no doubt about it. The Vikings wield the biggest scoring threat in Pennsylvania with Sophia Schweikert. Entering the season as the No. 1 overall ranked volleyball player between both boys and girls in the state by MaxPreps, the two-time All-State outside hitter finished her sophomore campaign with 602 kills, second in Pennsylvania only behind Philipsburg-Osceola’s Reese Hazelton (608).
Schweikert is the fastest in the school’s history to reach 1,000 career kills and is currently on pace to go over 2,000. With 610 career digs, she’s on pace for 1,000 in that category as well.
Over coach Tony Funsten’s tenure, Upper Merion has accumulated over 800 wins and six district titles. Last year saw the Vikings lose to undefeated 3A state champion Pope John Paul II in the PAC Championship.
The Vikings graduated setter Caitlyn Daywalt (1,627 career assists), but a loaded junior class – spearheaded by Schweikert – includes other three-year starters in Raven Albrecht and Sydney Bright. Upper Merion just missed a state tournament berth last year, but is primed to make a deep postseason push in 2023.
“Our outside hitting could be the best in the state with the Sophia and Yalerie combination,” Funsten said. “We also have better balance than in any prior year as both middles (senior Despina Kourtidis and junior Maya Giles) are capable of scoring points and we have a powerful right side in Sydney Bright. The offense will be in the very capable hands of Raven Albrecht.”
Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: Mike Tirjan, second year
Last year’s record: 3-14 PAC and overall
Athletes to watch: Sammi Pedrick, Jr., S/OH; Ava Steinman, Jr., MH; Anne Gerstenberg, Jr., OH; Dana Cahill, Sr., S/OH.
Outlook: Upper Perkiomen has upperclassmen hitting talent and improved serving. Sammi Pedrick is a dynamic multi-sport athlete among the group who set the school pole vault record last spring. The 2023 season will be about improvement for the Tribe in Mike Tirjan’s second year at the helm of the program.
“We are still a new team and inexperienced but we have made tremendous strides in a short period of time,” Tirjan said.
