Check out the results for SOL girls’ volleyball teams in action Tuesday. To view photos of the Neshaminy/CR South match, please visit the Photo Gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/g/092915_council_rock_south_vs_neshaminy_dll
WILLIAM TENNENT 3, PENNSBURY 1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 27-25)
Coach Brian Bassler called Tuesday’s win “the biggest upset I’ve ever been involved in,” and there’s no mistaking the magnitude of the young Panthers’ win over an undefeated Falcon squad on its own court.
“It was wild over there,” Bassler said. “The girls came to play.
“We’ve been talking about this since Jaime Bonner got hurt (last year) – about how to make it click, and it did today. I’m not sure why, I’m not sure what we said as coaches, I’m not sure what the players said to each other, but they were fantastic today.”
The Panthers served early notice that they meant business when they won the opening set, but the Falcons rallied to win the second. It was the Panthers’ approach in the second set that stood out to Bassler.
“We got down in that set 14-5 and then 18-8, and we came back and lost 25-23,” he said. “I told them I was most proud of that set because that’s the first time they showed they could fight through adversity and frustration and continue to play positively with some energy. It was just nice to see.”
Propelled by their gutsy comeback in the second set, the Panthers went on to win the next two.
“It was a really intense match, and this was the best defense and most focused our young team has ever played,” Bassler said. “We had come off a really bad match at (Central Bucks) West where we seemed disorganized and didn’t seem like we had anything together.
“Today was the opposite. We worked really hard, the defense was amazing, the serving was much better. Our girls did a great job up front of placing the ball and putting pressure on their defense into their offense and keeping them out of their system. It all seemed to work together.”
Leading a balanced attack at the net were Lindsey Snock (10 kills), Nicole Long (nine kills) and Laura Cochrane (eight kills). Setter Alexandria Dakota Koppany had 30 assists to go along with 12 digs and four aces. Also contributing defensively were Jamie George (nine digs), Nicole Long (eight digs), Steph Woolston (seven digs) and Ariel Goldberg (six digs). George and Woolston each added three aces.
“It was one of those things where they were all great together,” Bassler said. “Of course, Alex is the main component as the senior setter, having won there before two years ago.
“The stats couldn’t have been more balanced. Everything we have talked to them about they did today – to play with more effort, to be positive, to not worry about it when you get down.
“We said to the girls afterwards – not many girls’ volleyball players have had the chance to go there and win, so that was really neat for our sophomores and juniors to go through tonight.”
While the Falcons (6-1, 4-1 SOL) suffered their first loss, the Panthers improved to 5-1 in league play (5-2 overall).
“Yesterday at practice, a couple of girls said, ‘Do we have a chance? Realistically, can we beat them?’” Bassler said. “I said, ‘I don’t take bus trips for fun. I believe in you guys. If you just play hard, I don’t care about the result. I just want you to play hard, support one another and be positive and see what happens,’ and they did that tonight.”
Tuesday’s match marked the beginning of a tough stretch for the Falcons, who travel to Council Rock North on Thursday and Souderton on Friday and then will play a doubleheader against Central Bucks East and West Chester Henderson on Saturday.
“There’s no rest,” Bassler said. “These are elite teams in our district. I told them, ‘I don’t care what the results are. I just want to see you play with more energy and positivity. Do the best you can.’
“If they play like they did tonight and lose the next four, I’d still be thrilled. I think tonight showed they’re starting to fight through adversity, gaining some confidence, and that, to me, is the bigger thing. If you leave high school with more confidence, with the ability to overcome obstacles, that’s way more important than some of the results.
“I told them on the ride home – ‘No matter what happens, nobody can take this win away from you. They were undefeated, they were in first place, and you guys did something that a lot of people will never do.’ That’s really cool to have it at that moment.”
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3, NESHAMINY 1 (25-20, 25-22, 20-25, 25-17)
The Golden Hawks defeated the Redskins in a battle of conference rivals. Kelsey McGill (14 assists) and Hannah Devlin (10 assists) split setting duties. Elaina Budny (five kills, two blocks), Grace Laggan (seven kills, three aces) and Natalie Kazokas (four kills) paced the Hawks at the net. Hannah Sullivan contributed four aces and one block.
For the Redskins, setter Olivia Lynch had 15 assists while Caitlin Gonglik led the team's service game with six aces. Miranda Foster (five kills), Jillian Willis (four kills) and Crystal Teoh (six kills) led a balanced attack. Willis also had 16 digs to lead the defense, and Teoh added 10 and Foster, nine digs.
UPPER MERION 3, UPPER DUBLIN 2 (23-25, 25-15, 25-15,19-25, 15-8)
The Flying Cardinals gave the Vikings all they could handle, but the Vikings prevailed.
“It was a very good match against a strong all-around team,” UD coach Paul Choi said. “Upper Dublin fought hard in the fourth set, gaining momentum to force a final fifth set.”
Carolyn Helenski led the Vikings at the net with 18 kills while Emma Andraka added 10 kills and seven blocks. Setter Carlye Odoorsio had another double-double with 10 kills to go along with her 32 assists. Micaela Ghanayem had 18 service points for the Vikings.
The Flying Cardinals received big contributions from Bryn Stek, who dished out 41 assists and also had eight digs. Josie Barrett had 13 digs while Maggie Weglos had 10 digs. UD was led offensively by Gabbi Johnson with a double-double (15 kills and 16 digs), and Jenny McAneney had a monster game, finishing with a double-double as well (15 kills and 26 digs).
PENNRIDGE 3, QUAKERTOWN 0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-11)
Steph Judkins had a big night for the Lady Rams, finishing with 13 kills, 10 digs and four aces. Rebecca McBride added nine kills. Setter Jessica Heckler had 27 assists. Caitlin Saalfrank led the defense with 15 digs. Maddie Mosser had five aces and four kills.
For the Panthers, Lindsay Beck (three kills, six digs) and Ellie deGruchy (three kills, one block) led the way at the net. Ashley Morris had six digs, three assists and one kills, and Alisa Buononno led the defense with 11 digs and three aces.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-19)
The Bucks rolled to a sweep of their neighboring rival.
Sophia Videva (seven kills, five aces, six digs, one block) and Julia Schweinbenz (six kills, two aces, eight digs, one block) led the Bucks at the net. Setter Kayla King had 21 assists, three kills, two aces and 14 digs. Also contributing were Katie Hudson (four kills, two aces, three digs), Kailey Prall (10 digs) and April Neeld (three kills, two digs, one block).
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, SOUDERTON 0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-11)
The Patriots continued their roll through Continental Conference play.
For the Indians, setter Lauren Hamilton had 17 assists while Savannah Bostwick led the defense with 12 digs. Talia Watson had six digs and two aces, and Haley Novak had six kills and six digs. Monica Miller added four kills and five digs.
ABINGTON 3, WISSAHICKON 0 (25-9, 25-10, 25-14)
Setter Emma Garg contributed 16 assists and six service aces as the Ghosts earned a sweep of the Trojans. Claire Gassman had four kills and three aces, Hannah Dalton added four kills and Grace Whitney had five kills. Kaylee Goodson had two kills and three digs.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, CHELTENHAM 0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-16)
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, NORRISTOWN 0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-14)
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