Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ volleyball teams in action. Hatboro-Horsham/Neshaminy, Tennent/Truman & Upper Dublin/Wissahickon photos provided courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back for galleries of all three games.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 3, BENSALEM 0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-10)
The Pennsbury Falcons opened their season with a sweep of the Owls.
A combination of tough serving (17 total aces) and a strong offensive attack (0.475 hitting efficiency) helped power the Falcons to a win in their first match. Katie Mishler, Brooke Sweitzer, and Avery Stewart combined for 11 aces. Reese Webb, Madara Bungs, and Reagan Perate all combined for 20 kills.
Up next: Pennsbury will be on the road at Neshaminy on Thursday, and Bensalem will host Dock Mennonite Academy in a non-league match Wednesday.
WILLIAM TENNENT 3, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2 (25-22, 23-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-13)
In a classic battle between the neighboring rivals, it was the Titans rallying from a 2-1 deficit to eke out wins in the final two sets to earn the victory.
Both teams received big performances from numerous players. South libero Lily Grzymala led the defense with 36 digs, setter Carly Scott had 42 assists while the balanced attack was led by outside hitter Allison West and middle hitter Lane McLaughlin with 15 kills each. Outside hitter Katelyn Roth also had double-digit kills with 10.
For the Bucks, Kya Lynch turned in a monster performance at the net, finishing with 30 kills to go along with 13 digs. Setters Erin McCusker and Emma Shank combined for 35 assists. Emily Ferrace’s 14 digs led the defense.
By the numbers
Central Bucks South: Lily Grzymala (Sophomore, Libero) 1 Ace, 36 Digs, Rose Kendrick (Junior, Defensive Specialist) 4 Aces, 3 Assists, 9 Digs, Carly Scott (Senior, Setter) 2 Aces, 3 Kills, 42 Assists, 8 Digs, Hailey Campana (Senior, Defensive Specialist) 15 Digs, Allison West (Junior, Outside Hitter) 2 Aces, 15 Kills, 23 Digs, Katelyn Roth (Junior, Outside Hitter) 3 Aces, 10 Kills, 7 Digs, Lane Mclaughlin (Senior, Middle Hitter) 15 Kills, Sophia Mancini (Junior, Middle) 5 Kills, 4 Blocks, 2 Digs
Central Bucks West: Kya Lynch: 30 kills, 13 digs, Ava Streibig: 7 kills, 2 aces, 3 digs , Emily Ferrese: 14 digs, 1 ace, 1 kill, 1 assist, Erin McCuscker: 21 assists, 4 digs, Emma Shank: 2 aces, 14 assists, 2 digs, Keeley Fialkowski: 3 kills, Ashlyn Kear: 3 aces, 8 digs, Charley Brexler: 1 ace 6 digs
Up next: Central Bucks South will host Bensalem in a non-league match Friday, and Central Bucks West will host Pennridge on Thursday.
NORTH PENN 3, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 (25-18, 25-8, 25-20)
The North Penn girls' varsity volleyball team doubled its record to 2-0 with a win over Central Bucks East on Tuesday night. The Knights recorded a home opener win in three straight sets, and outpaced CB East from the jump.
CB East won the toss and the serve. North Penn quickly sided out and took control of the first set after trading points with CB East. Holland Van Ooyen, a sophomore outside hitter, was dangerous from the serving line, building an 8-2 lead. The junior duo of Maya Mikulski and Sofie Potrusilova assisted with a stuff block on the CB East outside hitter, setting the tone early. North Penn's strong front row blocking showed itself in set one, and the Knights took the game 25-18.
Senior setter and captain Belle Mikulski clinched game two with a series of wicked serves and six aces in her second rotation, leading e team to a quick win in set two. North Penn built a 12-8 lead on great defense and timely hitting when Belle Mikulski re-entered the match at the serving line. She fired thirteen straight from the service line, leading to a dominating 25-8 route.
The final game of the match started with a quick side out by the Knights and a commanding 4-0 lead by Belle Mikulski from the serving line. Although CB East showed some life early in the set, briefly taking a 6-7 lead from several North Penn mistakes, the Knights’ hitters sparked to life. Senior captain outside hitter Madlen Potrusilova led with five kills, and junior captain and middle hitter Maya Mikluski was just behind with four kills and a lethal 80 percent kill percentage. The Knights closed the match with a 25-20 win in game three, sealing the win in three sets.
North Penn dispatched CB East quickly in a one-hour match and dominated all phases of the game: offense, defense, serving, and serve receive. North Penn celebrated a varsity and JV sweep for an undefeated home opener and 2-0 start to the season.
Central Bucks East: The Lady Patriots dropped their first match of the season against a very talented North Penn squad. The offense was led by junior Alli Minacci (5 kills, 363 hitting percentage), junior Summer Darling (3 kills, 2 aces) and sophomore Taliya Pettigrew (3 kills, 1 block). Junior Brynne Vonder Schmalz dished out 8 assists.
Up next: North Penn will host Quakertown on Thursday, and Central Bucks East will host Souderton on Thursday.
SOUDERTON 3, PENNRIDGE 1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18)
The Indians dropped their first set but rallied to win the next three in Tuesday’s SOL opener.
Setter Caroline Bache dished out 30 assists. Zoe Folk dominated play at the net with 21 kills while Kylie O’Keefe added 12 kills and Ava Woodbury, nine kills.
By the numbers
Souderton: Ava Woodbury: 4 aces, 9 kills, 7 digs, Stella Powers: 1 ace, 9 kills, 6 digs, Kylie Okeefe: 12 kills, 1 block, 3 digs, Caroline Bache: 5 aces, 1 kill, 30 assists, 7 digs, Zoe Folk: 1 ace, 21 kills, 3 assists, Isabella Bernardo: 1 ace, 3 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs
Up next: Souderton will be on the road at Central Bucks East on Thursday, and Pennridge will travel to Central Bucks West on Thursday.
SOL American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 3, WISSAHICKON 0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-17)
The Flying Cardinals earned a sweep of a young Trojan squad. Brooke Kinsley’s 11 kills led a balanced Cardinal attack while setters Ruby Vogel and Kaitlyn Small combined for 29 assists.
By the numbers
Upper Dublin: Alisa Zeng - 3 aces, 5 digs, Brooke Kinsley - 11 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs, 1 block, Casey Calvano - 3 kills, Ellie 
Cheifetz - 1 kill, 7 digs, Isabelle Driehuis - 5 kills, 2 blocks, Madison Small - 4 kills, 4 aces, 4 digs, Ruby Vogel - 2 aces, 14 assists, 3 digs, Kaitlyn Small - 2 kills, 15 assists, 1 dig
Wissahickon: Sophomore Hannah Seder (6 Assists, 5 Digs) and freshman Josie Shakespeare (3 Assists, 1 Ace, 1 Dig) set and drive the offense. Leading the way on offense are outside hitters- sophomore Kahlan Degnan (5 Kills, 1 Ace, 5 Digs) and senior Anyah Carter-(4 Kills, 2 Digs, 2 Blocks), and junior middle hitters Elle Coughlin (3 Kills, 6 Digs, 4 Blocks) and Nicole Niesborella(3 Kills, 2 Aces, 2 Digs).
Wissahickon coach Mitchell Harris: “The Trojans are continuing their youth movement as they work to change the culture and improve their level of play. The team came out strong in the first set but ultimately lost 19-25. After a tough set 2 (11-25), the girls fought hard in set 3 but were unable to get over the hump and take the set losing (17-25).
“While the team has been hit hard by injuries with three varsity players out, several freshmen, including Emma Choo and Kylie Meuanthongchanh, have made contributions and will be poised to take larger roles in the future.”
Up next: Upper Dublin will host Upper Merion in a non-league match Wednesday. The Lady Trojans travel to face Cheltenham on Thursday.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, ABINGTON 0 (25-13-, 25-19, 25-18)
PW earned its first win of the season, earning a sweep of the visiting Ghosts.
The Colonials were led by junior Ryleigh Gunn with 12 kills and 1 block. The service and defensive effort was led by senior Giuliana Storti with 15 digs and 3 aces. The team also saw contributions from junior, Eliza Meersman who had 7 kills, seniors Marissa Storti and Siena Repici who had 6 kills apiece. The team assist leaders were junior Evyn Chapman with 14 and senior Ella Walker with 10 assists.
It was a nice early win for the Colonials who travel to New Hope Solebury on Thursday.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, SPRINGFIELD TWP 0
The Hatters swept a much-improved Spartan squad and will now prepare for Thursday’s home match against Upper Dublin.
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 3, CHELTENHAM 0
Non-league
FAITH CHRISTIAN 3, QUAKERTOWN 0
Monday, August 25
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, NESHAMINY 1
Hatboro-Horsham won a four-set match with a tight final set of 25-23 against visiting Neshaminy.
Standouts were senior Rachel King in the serving line, senior Kaylie Chung on defense, junior Gabbie Fisher in the OH, the middles in sophomore Ciara Lacey and Juniors Leah Benoit-Jean and a round robin of setters in senior Paisley Lauzier and juniors Mia Szymanik and Caroline Ward.
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 3, CONWELL-EGAN 1
Friday, August 22
NORTH PENN 3, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 2 (22-25, 25-18, 20-25, 26-24, 15-10)
The North Penn girls' volleyball team was 1-0 after its 5-set win against cross-city rival Lansdale Catholic. The Knights started the match slowly with a 22-25 loss in set one on strong serving and timely hitting from Lansdale Catholic.
The Lady Knights bounced back in set two, starting with an 8-0 serving run by senior captain Belle Mikulski and strong outside support from senior Madlen Potrusilova and sophomore Holland Van Ooyen. The team picked up their blocking led by junior middle hitter Maya Mikulski, junior right-side hitter Teju Arun, and sophomore middle hitter Sienna Andolino, shutting down the Lansdale Catholic attack. Maya Mikulski flexed her muscle in set two, hammering kills through the Lansdale Catholic defense. Holland Van Ooyen served the last three points, with Teju Arun shutting the door with a stuff block on the Lansdale Catholic outside hitter. The Knights won the set 25-18.
Lansdale Catholic bounced back in the third set with a strong serving performance, winning the set 25-20.
North Penn took control in set four with another 9-0 serving run by senior captain Belle Mikulski. The Knights grew the lead to 10 points at 13-3. Lansdale Catholic clawed back with a fast-paced serving sprint, tying the game 23-23 with the serve after a Knights timeout. Lansdale Catholic took the lead at 24-23, and a net violation on Lansdale tied the game at 24-24. Madlen Potrusilova served for the set and Holland Van Ooyen sealed the game with a hard-driven ball to the far corner, winning 26-24.
Set five started with Lansdale Catholic serving, and North Penn sided out with sophomore Holland Van Ooyen hitting a hard shot to the back corner like her game-winner in game four. Like sets two and four, senior captain Belle Mikulski served a 4-0 run for a commanding lead in the 15-point game five. The Knights battled with junior setter Sofie Potrusilova playing front row, giving Lansdale a new look. Lansdale was gaining momentum, but an overturned call extended the Knights' lead to 7-2. North Penn extended the lead to 13-5 on a strong serving run by junior Sofie Potrusilova and scrappy defense by the Lady Knights. Lansdale Catholic made one last push, closing the gap at 13-8, but senior Madlen Potrusilova sided out on a tip, nipping the line for a score. Her sister, junior Sofie Potrusilova, ended the match on a clutch setter dump, winning 15-10.
The North Penn won a tightly contested match against a talented Lansdale Catholic squad with outstanding performances by the entire Knights team.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3, WISSAHICKON 0
Senior leaders Olivia DeSaro (OH), Kristina Shumakov (MB), Ella Ford (MB/OPP), and Haley Lukach (OPP) led the Golden Hawks in their season opener.
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