NORTH PENN 3, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 (25-20, 25-15, 26-24)
The North Penn volleyball team had never won a tournament in the history of its program.
Until, that is, last Saturday when the Maidens walked away with the tournament title at the Ridge Rumble at Spring-Ford High School. Add that to their five straight wins in match play so far this season, and it’s been quite an impressive start for the Maidens.
“I think it throws our name out there for the rest of the conference that we’re here this year – you’re going to have to get through us to win it,” Maidens’ coach Bryan Yost said.
According to the players, the Maidens’ early success didn’t just happen.
“In the offseason, a lot of us played club and everyone got so much better,” junior Isabelle Kerr said. “We’re more well-rounded.”
“Individually, we have gotten better,” junior Stephanie Elechko added. “As a team that makes us better.”
When the Maidens took the court for Tuesday’s match against Central Bucks West, they looked across the court and saw more than a few familiar faces, some of whom play on their club team.
“We also play a lot of teams that people around here play for in club,” Elechko said. “It’s kind of like our own little scouting to see what they can and can’t do.”
“Someone is bound to know something about the other team,” Kerr said.
The Maidens had their opponent’s number on Tuesday, and they were led by the six-kill efforts of Kerr, Elechko and senior setter Kendra Allen. Allen also had 25 assists. Junior libero Alyssa Chiodo led the defense with 17 digs, and teammate Megan Gallagher had two blocks.
For the Bucks, Rachel Baker led the way with eight kills and nine digs. Sarah Hall added five kills, and Maddie Klun and Alicia West both had three kills. Jessica West (10 assists) and Taylor Hodge (seven assists) shared setting duties for the Bucks, who hung tough for all three games.
“We have some experienced players,” West coach Todd Miller said. “But it doesn’t help that their coach coaches my kids during club, and he can pick up their flaws. It makes it a little easier for them unfortunately.
“The girls played well. We missed some minor adjustments and we faltered here and there, but they didn’t give up, so you have to give them credit. They’re a good bunch of kids. They work hard, and they work for each other.”
The Maidens – admittedly tired from a stretch that featured three matches and a tournament in the past six days – showed their tenacity in the third game after finding themselves in an early 8-2 hole.
“We all just really want to win and push to the last point and play our hardest all the time,” Kerr said. “We all have that mindset, and we’re determined to do whatever we have to do to get the point. If you can win it in three, you want to win it in three.”
Kerr personified that mindset when – with the two teams deadlocked 24-24 – she brought up back-to-back balls that appeared heading for the floor. Teammate Courtney Gill finished it off with a kill to put the Maidens on top 25-24. They went on to win 26-24.
“I think we were all a little tired, and they played well,” Kerr said.
“Being tired and winning in three sets puts me at ease a little bit,” Yost said. “Knowing if we’re going to have a bad night we’ll still be tough to beat.”
WISSAHICKON 3, NORRISTOWN 1 (14-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-12)”
The Trojans dropped their first game of the match but then rallied to win three straight en route to their much-needed win over the Eagles..
“We played exceptional team defense,” coach Mary Copelli said. “We had outstanding hitting from Deanna Bianchini, Rachel Philbin and Tara Rodgers. Elizabeth Smith was dominant at the net.”
The win was the first of the season for the Trojans.
“Right now they have very little confidence in their ability,” Copelli said. “I have a lot more confidence in them than they have in themselves.
“They played at a tournament over the weekend and didn’t fare well, and they just don’t know how to finish off a team. Today we had phenomenal hitting, and our serving was outstanding.
“It was such a positive – I don’t know if it was more positive for the coaches or the kids because we were getting to the point where we were like, ‘What do we do?’ I’ve talked to many coaches about how to get them over the hump, and this was important to point them in the right direction.”
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-10)
Lauren Laucella led the Hatters at the net with eight kills and five blocks. Kathryn Lucca served 22 points and led the defense with nine digs. Caitlin Klotzbach added eight digs. Sam Jones had 23 assists.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, QUAKERTOWN 0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-18)
The Titans (3-0) kept pace with the Maidens in the race for the Continental Conference’s top spot, downing the Panthers in three straight games. Freshman setter Kaitlyn Kushman had 22 assists to go along with seven service aces. Meghan Kaminski led the Titans at the net with 10 kills while Abby Mummert added six kills and Annie Danyluk, five kills. Lauren Wise had three kills. Jayne Mulhern, Kaminski and Mummert each had 10 digs. Kaminski also had four aces.
“Quakertown always has great defense and a hard working team,” South coach Ulana Keer said. “We came off playing a match last night and were reorganizing ourselves mentally.
“Quakertown’s players were pumped up to play us and came out very strong, challenging every shot, digging everything that came their way.”
Anna Mease (five kills, one ace, five digs) and Ava Haekler (five kills, one ace, three digs) led the Panthers. Sophie Butler had four kills, one ace and three digs. Lydia O’Neal had three aces, three digs and one kill. Geena Close had seven assists and two kills. Meghan Lopes had seven assists, one ace and eight digs. Mary Berger led the defense with nine digs. Colette Todd added four digs.
PENNSBURY 3, MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21)
Lauren Pisauro led the Falcons with nine kills and 13 digs in their impressive non-league win over the Magic. Teammate Audrey Stringer added eight kills while Jae Jackson and KelseyMoulton each had seven kills. Moulton also had eight digs. Amanda Pace led the Falcons defensively with 16 digs. Setter Paige Misawic had 25 assists to go along with 13 digs.
SOUDERTON 3, CHRISTOPHER DOCK 0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-17)
The Indians picked up their first win of the young season on Tuesday when they downed neighboring Dock in three straight games. Grace Pinto led the Indians at the net with six kills while Alexa Kluka had four and Sam Cressman and Jen Spause both had three. Cressman handed out 16 assists. Defensively, Pinto (four digs) and Hayley Sparks (three digs) led the way. Cressman and Pinto each had fives aces to lead the Indians serving game.
PENNSBURY 3, NESHAMINY 1, (25-20, 26-24, 20-25, 25-16) (Monday, Sept. 12)
The Redskins put up a battle, but the Falcons prevailed in a battle of the neighboring rivals on Monday at Pennsbury.
“It was an incredible match,” Redskin coach Kate Livingstone said. “Both teams played their hearts out, and I could not be more proud of how our team played.
“These girls have amazing heart and exceptional mental toughness, and we are only going to get better.”
The Falcons were led by the 10-kill effort of Jae Jackson, who boasted an impressive .364 hitting efficiency in the match. Lauren Pisauro and Audrey Stringer both added nine kills. Paige Misawic delivered six aces.
For the Redskins, outside hitter Bria Harris had 11 kills while middle hitter Amy Paulits had 10 kills, 12 digs and two aces. Junior setter Julia Staub had 28 assists and two aces. Defensively, the Redskins were anchored by Kelly Mason and M.E. Easton who combined for 33 digs.
NORTH PENN 3, LANSDALE CATHOLIC (25-16, 27-25, 25-18) (Monday, Sept. 12)
Junior Stephanie Elechko led the way with 10 kills, five blocks and two aces in the Maidens’ non-league win over their crosstown rivals. Teammate Isabelle Kerr added seven kills, six digs and two aces. Setter Kendra Allen had 26 assists, five digs and one ace while defensive libero Alyssa Chiodo had eight digs and two aces. Courtney Gill had a pair of kills.
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