Pennsbury and Central Bucks West were winners in District One 4A volleyball action on Thursday night. Abington/Spring-Ford photos provided courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back for a gallery of photos...CLICK HERE to go directly to the GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL GALLERY.
#10 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, #7 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 (25-11, 25-12, 25-22)
The Bucks pulled off an impressive upset, sweeping the defending district runner-up Colonials on their home court.
“The story of tonight’s match was our girls wanting to see each other succeed and working hard for each other and loving each other to the end of it all,” West coach Todd Miller said. “I really think that this girls’ team is so tight-knit with who they are as teammates.
“They spend a ton of time together, and I just think that has made them so much stronger.”
Senior Katie Hudson had another big night, leading the Bucks with 18 kills, one ace and 10 digs.
“Katie Hudson had a great night,” Miller said. “I threw a freshman (Jordyn Klementovich) in to serve, and she was just consistent, put the ball in aggressively, and I think the minute you put the ball in aggressively out of serve against PW you can keep them out of system a little bit more.
“I just think with that they did a great job – good defense, reading well, passing well. They went in there knowing they had to work hard and just had the right attitude to play against a team like that – we’re going to have to work for it. They realized that and did exactly that.
“At that point, you’re the underdog. You look at it and think ‘What do we have to lose?’ So if that’s the case, go out there and do everything you can to disrupt them and work hard, and they did that. I’m incredibly proud of them for what they did tonight.”
Klementovich had three service aces. Casey Taylor contributed six kills, four aces and six digs. Setter Ana Claricurzio had 29 assists, two kills, one block, six digs while Maggie Winderman led the defense with 12 digs. Also contributing were Amanda Mass (four kills, one block) and Naomi Woo (one kill, three blocks).
For the Colonials, the loss snapped a 28-match home winning streak. It was their first loss at home since Sept. 21, 2015, when they fell to Upper Dublin 3-0.
“What was PW? 17-1?” Miller asked. “For my girls to go in and do that, I’m extremely proud of them for doing that. You’re going into their home turf, and you’re playing a team that’s ranked higher than you.
“It was so exciting to see. The joy on the girls’ faces and the way that they played tonight – wow, I haven’t seen this in a long time at West, so I’m incredibly proud of them.”
Central Bucks West will travel to second seeded Upper Merion for Monday’s quarterfinal match. Plymouth Whitemarsh closed out its season with an 20-3 record.
#3 PENNSBURY 3, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-16)
The Falcons advanced to Monday’s quarterfinal with a win over the visiting Patriots. It was their third win of the season over their conference rival.
“We went five (sets) with them the first time and swept them the last time,” Pennsbury coach Mike Falter said. “In the first set, their hitter – Jenn Krzeminski – went on a 10-point service run, and we were down 12-1 in the first set.
“Having lost the last two years in our first district playoff game, I think the girls had some inner thoughts start to creep in and we started to panic a little, but they settled in and we ended up losing the first set 25-22.
“I’m happy they were able to work through those nerves. We still played nervous all night. We weren’t as clean as we normally are. They battled, but I think nerves got in the way of us playing to the best of our ability. Give credit to CB East – their defense was spectacular, they played well, and they definitely wanted it.”
After the Patriots won the first set, the Falcons won the next three. Leading the way was senior Julia Vreeswyk with 16 kills, seven digs and two service aces. Elley Torres added 12 kills and seven digs while Sydney Buell had 11 kills, nine digs and four aces.
Setter Kiley Bucknum handed out 36 assists to go along with a team-high five service aces, seven digs and two kills. Brooke Burns had three kills and one dig. Libero Heather Linker led the defense with 20 digs.
For the Patriots, Anna Ritter had 25 assists and nine digs. Jenn Krzeminski – who had a game-high nine service aces - had an outstanding game, not only serving the Patriots to a huge lead but also contributing 15 kills, two blocks and 19 digs. Makaila Freeman added four kills and a block, and Morgan Beakley had a kill, four aces and 20 digs. Ysabelle Minschwaner had two aces, three kills and 14 digs. Vivien Agassi had five kills, one ace and eight digs. Coach Kerri Rabberman also lauded the strong play of Aurora Budson, Courtney Woolslayer and Abby Killough.
“I am so incredibly proud my girls not only tonight, but this whole entire season,” the Patriots’ coach said. “They grew so much and I am very lucky to have had them.
“Pennsbury is a great team and I wish them all the luck as they continue their playoff run. To my seniors, thank you for an absolutely amazing season and everything that you have given to this program, not only this year but everything before and after. Thank you again, girls, I will never forget this season.”.
The Falcons will host 11th-seeded Spring-Ford in Monday’s quarterfinal round.
“Hopefully, the fact that we won our first district game will get the monkey off our backs, and they’ll be able to relax a little and focus on the next match,” Falter said
Central Bucks East closed out its season with a 14-10 record.
#11 SPRING-FORD 3, #6 ABINGTON 0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-16)
The Ghosts saw their season come to an end sooner than they’d hoped in the postseason, falling to the visiting Rams in three sets.
“Tonight it came down to experience,” coach Dan Marsh said. “It’s funny because you have to go through it. I don’t think our team had any idea what the atmosphere would be like, and we didn’t handle it very well.
“Hats off to Spring-Ford – they’re a very good team, and we knew they played a very difficult schedule. I would liken Spring-Ford to an Abington basketball team who has a lower seed, but they’re a better team because they have played such a tough schedule.
“Our teams were a mirror of each other. They have two good middles and a really good outside hitter, and we have two good middles and a really good outside hitter. They have a really good setter, and we have a really good setter. The games were close. They were battles.”
If there was a turning point in the match, it came in the second set when the Ghosts opened up a 21-17 lead and the Rams came roaring back to win 27-25.
“The third game I think our girls were just deflated at that point that they were down 2-0,” Marsh said. “I tried to tell them that the peripheral distractions – that kind of stuff is legit when you get to the district playoffs, and unfortunately, you really can’t do anything until you go through it.”
The Ghosts captured a share of the program’s first ever conference crown under the first-year coach, but the season was about much more than wins and losses.
“This is an amazing group of not only players but parents, a complete team that just came together and really had an amazing season,” Marsh said. “I’m not just saying this, but it’s literally one of the best experiences I’ve ever had as a coach.”
That’s quite a statement from a coach whose girls’ basketball team last year captured the District One 6A title, the second for the program under Marsh.
“I think I’m a better coach and a better person because of this experience,” he said. “Hopefully, it can translate into my next season.
“As far as kids that just bought into each other and into the team – I had a friend who watched us play, and she said, ‘You guys literally are one, you’re not six.’ It wasn’t just six. We literally are one – family, friends, team. Everybody became one.
“In high school sports, there’s always someone who’s negative. There’s been no negativity, there’s been positivity throughout. It’s what life and sports should be all about. If everybody was this positive and caring about each other, it would be amazing.”
Marsh bids farewell to six seniors – Alyssa Goodson, Kate Petriccione, Amanda Rice, Anna Bantner, Hannah Dalton and Grace Whitney - who were instrumental in bringing Marsh to the sidelines.
“Obviously, they’re devastated,” Marsh said. “They wanted to go out on their own terms, and they don’t feel as though they played their best game.
“No one can take away the banner they earned this year, no one can take away their school record of wins. Really, all that stuff is ancillary because no one can take away the experience that we had. Not tonight and maybe not even tomorrow, but eventually, they’re going to sit back and say, ‘Wow, that was amazing.’ They really are a great bunch of kids.
“They’re just totally supportive of each other, always had each other’s backs even in the most difficult situations like today. I’m flabbergasted by the support of the parents of those guys and each other.”
Abington closed out its historic season with a 17-2 record.
#8 GARNET VALLEY 3, #9 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
The visiting Indians saw a successful season come to an end when they were swept by the defending state champion Jaguars.
Senior outside Maddy Moore had 11 kills and seven digs while senior middle Mackenzie Tinner had nine kills, five blocks, three digs and one ace as both came up big in their final high school match. Senior outside hitter Alyssa Coates had four kills, two aces and two blocks. Senior setter Sarah Caola had 24 assists, seven digs and one block. Senior opposite Kaelin Mealy added three kills. Senior libero Grace Schweizer had 13 digs to lead the defense. Junior middle Jenna Hron had three kills and two blocks. Junior defensive specialist Ashley Kelly had eight digs and two aces, and junior defensive specialist Jill Schweizer added four digs.
Council Rock North closed out its season with an 18-6 record.
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