SOL conference champions Plymouth Whitemarsh and Council Rock North are featured heading in the District One AAAA Tournament that will see seven SOL teams in action Tuesday.
By DENNY DYROFF
There are some new kids on the block in the top echelon of District 1 Class AAAA girls’ volleyball this season -- a new kid and a very new kid.
When the bracket was announced last Thursday for the 2016 District 1 Class AAAA Tournament, many of the familiar names were there among the tourney’s top seeds, including perennial Ches-Mont League powerhouses Bishop Shanahan, Downingtown West, Avon Grove and Downingtown East.
But, right up there with the “big kids” were the “new kids” from the Suburban One League – Plymouth Whitemarsh and Council Rock North.
Plymouth Whitewash didn’t slip quietly through a side door into the elite zone this season. The Colonials kicked the front door down.
Last week, Plymouth Whitemarsh knocked off Hatboro-Horsham 3-2 to finish as undefeated Continental Conference champion with a perfect 18-0 league slate. The Colonials concluded their regular season with a highly-impressive 22-0 record.
As a result, Plymouth Whitemarsh received the number two seed in the district tournament with only Bishop Shanahan ranked higher. The Colonials will have a bye in the first round and open play on October 27 against the winner of the Central League showdown match between 15th-seeded Strath Haven and 18th-seeded Conestoga.
“Last year, we were 13-8 overall and 9-5 in the league,” said PW coach Seely Byler, “We went to districts but we lost in the first round to Mount St. Joseph’s.”
This year’s PW team is led by a nucleus of seniors Lauren Coscia, Danielle Lippert and Olivia Carbo and sophomore Lily Acquaviva.
All four had sparkling stats with one match left in the season. Coscia, a middle blocker, had 36 aces, 149 kills and 36 blocks. Rippert, an outside hitter, had 20 aces, 154 kills and 154 digs. Carbo, the team’s libero, had 52 aces and 345 digs. Acquaviva, the Colonials’ “Super Soph” outside hitter had 51 aces, 158 kills and 225 digs.
“We run a 5-1 around very athletic sophomore setter Bridget McTamney (27 aces, 176 digs, 423 assists),” said Byler, who played volleyball for Pennsbury in high school, Bux-Mont in club competition and Penn State Women's Volleyball Club in college.
Olivia Carbo, Laura Coscia and Gia Piazza are the captains of this year’s successful squad.
“They are very strong leaders through play on court and communication on and off the court,” Byler said. “We are very scrappy defensively. However, our hitters have matured this year and provide a very consistent well-balanced offense. There isn’t one hitter for our opponents to focus on because we move the ball around so much.”
The Plymouth Whitemarsh team has gelled this season and has been playing top-flight ball from opening day.
“We have qualified for districts for the past few years but were very young and didn't have the experience to make it deep into the postseason,” said Byler. “This year, we returned nine of 11 players from last year’s varsity team.
“They all played club and have a lot of experience on the varsity level. Coming into this year, we had two players with three years of varsity experience and six with one year. They are comfortable with playing with each other. And, we were able to fill in some missing pieces with very talented incoming players.”
Byler doesn’t see her team being affected by the pressure of being undefeated.
“Overall, we haven't thought about it too much,” said Byler, who is in her third year coaching at PW and eighth season coaching overall (Holy Family University, Hatboro-Horsham, and club at PVA/East Coast Power).
“When I looked back at the stats recently and saw that we have only dropped four sets all season, I am incredibly proud of this team for playing strong throughout the entirety of the regular season from start to finish. Now, our goal is to place top five in the district to quality for the state tournament.”
Council Rock North has had a season almost as impressive as Plymouth Whitemarsh. The Indians wrapped up the regular season last week with a 3-0 win over Bensalem to close out their league season with a perfect 18-0 record and a 20-2 record overall.
As a result, Rock North has earned the sixth seed – and a first-round bye – for the district tournament that starts on October 25. The Indians will open play on October 27 hosting the winner of the match between 11th-seeded Upper Dublin and 22nd-seeded Central Bucks South.
“Our only two losses came in a tri-match at Downingtown East,” said Council Rock North coach Mike Adams. “We lost to Downingtown East and to Mount Saint Joe’s. They’re good teams, but we weren’t at full strength. It was early in the season and we had two starters missing.”
Downingtown East is seeded seventh in the tournament and could face Rock North in the semifinals.
The Indians have a tall team with a pair of 6-foot, 1-inch middle blockers – senior Hadley Grundman and junior Mackenzie Tinner.
“Hadley, who will play at the University of Chicago next year, is our big middle hitter,” said Adams, who played soccer at Trenton State University and spent a number of seasons coaching soccer and volleyball in New Jersey at West Windsor-Plainsboro South High School.
“We’ve gotten our middles more involved in the offense this year. Hadley averages eight kills a game for a three-set match and is hitting at over a .350 clip. Mackenzie is super consistent. She sets really well for a tall kid – back sets, front sets – she can do anything.”
The team’s main outside hitters are seniors 5-11 Morgan Collito and 5-9 Birdie Ligos.
“Birdie is an unbelievable athlete overall,” said Adams. “She’s our top serve-receiver, and in our match against Pennsbury, she had 20 digs. She’s had a lot of interest from smaller colleges. She wants to play beach volleyball but she probably will play indoor.
“Morgan has been heavily recruited but she wants to stay close to home because she’s involved with her parents’ horse farm. She is our ‘go-to’ girl. When she gets the ball, we get the point.”
Both of the Indians’ starting opposites as well as their libero are underclassmen – 5-6 junior Maddy Moore at libero and 5-9 junior Kalein Mealey and 5-11 sophomore Dana Bandurick at opposite.
“Both Kalein and Dana also play basketball,” said Adams. “They’re super-athletic kids. Maddy is an awesome player. She’s saved us so many times. She digs everything near her. She can hand set and she can forearm set. And, she averages a couple aces a set.
“We run a 6-2 formation. Sarah Caola, a 5-8 junior, and Johanna Batterton, a 5-7 senior, are our setters. Sarah is extremely athletic. She can jump set and she gets two or three aces a match. Johanna is a high energy player. She’s the heart and soul of the team. Both setters have super positive energy – and they can serve the lights out.”
Adams has high hopes for his team this post-season.
“Our goal is top five at districts,” said Adams. “If our girls play their game, we’re a really tough team to stop.”
Hatboro-Horsham which ended its regular season with an impressive 19-3 overall record and 15-3 league record is seeded eighth for the Class AAAA tournament and also will have a first-round bye.
District One AAAA Opening Round, Tuesday, Oct. 25
#22 Central Bucks South at #11 Upper Dublin
#21 Methacton at #12 Central Bucks West
#19 West Chester Henderson at #14 Pennsbury
#17 Spring-Ford at #16 Souderton
#23 Abington at #10 Upper Merion
#24 Central Bucks East at #9 Great Valley.
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