Pennsbury saw its successful season come to an end in Saturday’s PIAA 4A quarterfinal round. Pennsbury/Bishop Shanahan photos provided courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#1-1 BISHOP SHANAHAN 3, #1-4 PENNSBURY 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-14)
A successful and memorable season came to an end for the Falcons in Saturday’s PIAA 4A quarterfinals when they fell to the District One champion Eagles in straight sets at Upper Dublin High School.
Saturday’s loss could not detract from a season that saw the Falcons roll through SOL National Conference play without a loss, finish fourth in District One 4A and advance to the state tournament.
“It was a total team effort,” coach Michael Falter said. “I’ve never been around a group of girls that bought in more to what we were trying to get them to do.
“I think we learned a lot last year as a team, and since we all came back, it was like, ‘Okay, let’s get to work.’ There was no learning process. We walked in the gym the first day and started playing.
“It’s impressive for a whole team to buy into a system. Some people had to sacrifice certain roles, and some girls never got in, but the team got better every day because we had such a great group of girls. The younger girls too – they’re impressive.”
This was the program’s first trip to the Elite Eight in 15 years.
“We’re a great program – we’re always right there,” Falter said. “That’s why this group of girls is so special – they got us to that next level while other teams that were so talented just fell a little short. This team got it done. That was their goal.”
Nine seniors – Brooke Burns, Abbie Drews, Annie Mehan, Mary Miller, Bria Mullaghy, Salley Kehan, Ashley Parry, Jada Rice and Elley Torres - were at the heart and soul of this year’s successful squad.
“I’ve known a good amount of these girls more than most high school players just because I coached them in club and you get to know their families,” Falter said. “It’s a special group, and since they came in as a freshman class, they were very impressive.
“It was pretty cool to get the opportunity to have two seasons in a row with the same group of girls because that never happens, and the talent in this group of girls – they’re all special, they’re all great players.”
Elley Torres and Brooke Burns were three-year varsity starters.
“They started as sophomores,” Falter said. “Brooke Burns even got some playing time as a freshman against Council Rock North. Ashley Parry used to come in as a serving specialist as a sophomore, so she’s been part of it.”
Abbie Drewes and Bria Mullaghy started as juniors as defensive specialists and liberos. Mary Miller, who also plays basketball, was injured a major part of the season this year but was a member of Falter’s club squad.
“Jada Rice – another middle hitter – was holding herself back a bit mentally, but she clicked halfway through the year and then got hurt warming up for the North match, so she was out the rest of the season,” Falter said.
Salley Kehan and Annie Mehan were valued reserves.
“You know what – they’re great volleyball players, and they would start for other schools in the area,” Falter said. “They make our players better at practice.”
This year’s conference title was the fifth in seven seasons for the Falcons.
“When I took over the program, the goal was to win league titles and contend for district championships, but your goal is to make states,” Falter said. “The league title is the thing you should do every year because you’re a good program and you should work hard, but making states – that’s the goal.
“Once you make states, you hope for the best, but when you run up against a program like Shanahan, they’re so good.”
The Eagles won in straight sets, but the Falcons’ play improved as the match progressed.
Elley Torres had a team-high seven kills to go with one ace, two digs and two blocks. Izzy Marinelli added five kills and one block. Brooke Burns had four kills, three digs and one block. Abbie Drewes led the defense with 10 digs while Bria Mullaghy added six. Setter Carissa Van Veen had 11 assists, one ace, four digs and one block. Ashley Parry had two kills, one ace and one block. Ava Sciolla had one dig, three blocks and one kill, and Maggie Golder added six assists and one dig.
“Our first game tonight was bad,” Falter said. “The one girl, number 33, stepped back and started ripping jump serves. We practiced for it, but the first set was a mess.
“But the girls got it together. They fought hard. I was so proud of them. Sets two and three were more competitive. The score doesn’t show it, but we competed.”
Pennsbury posted a perfect 18-0 record en route to a National Conference title. The Falcons were 21-4 overall.
Saturday’s match marked the end of an era.
“It is hard to say good-bye to them,” Falter said of his outstanding senior class. “That’s what I said to them when were talking at the end of the match – we got to experience something together because not many teams I’ve been part of or heard of have the same group of girls two years in a row and learn and grow. It was just a special group because I think I have spent more time with this group than any other. This is a special group of girls.”
- Log in to post comments
