Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ volleyball teams in action Wednesday. (William Tennent Senior Night Photos provided courtesy of Tennent volleyball)
SOL Patriot
WILLIAM TENNENT 3, BENSALEM 1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-15, 25-16)
It was typical 2020, a year when the best laid plans don’t always work out, and as a result, an annual tradition for the Panthers was anything but traditional.
It’s safe to say Julia Booz, Mackenzie Clee, Sarah Cummins, Morgan Farre, Olivia Kaczmarek and Brianna Zysk will never forget their Senior Night and the car parade that never happened..jpg)
“The parents did a spectacular job with the set-up,” coach Brian Bassler said. “We were unable to hold it in the gym due to following our health and safety plan and the guidelines set forth by the state to keep everyone as safe as possible.
“So one of our assistant coaches, Amber Wood, had this idea to have the car parade procession rather than the normal walk into the gym in front of family and friends since you are allowed a larger gathering outdoors.”
Everything was going as planned.
“The jayvee had a really good match, they went three, and it’s about five o’clock,” Bassler said. “The bus loop was fully decorated, there’s balloons, there’s posters. People are showing up in masks and socially distancing.
“Our girls are at the firehouse ready to come up through the car parade, but there’s police activity in the area, and our school goes into a full lockdown. You can’t make this up. It’s typical 2020.
“I take off, go to the firehouse across the street, stay with our seniors until we get a call that we can come back over. They secured the area around the school, but within any proximity of the school, they have to go into a lockdown, so football teams, soccer teams, field hockey – everybody who is there is running into the building.”
Although the car parade was out of the question, the Panthers’ match against the Owls was not.
“Our AD said, ‘Let’s play, the referees are here, we’re in a lockdown, and no one can go anywhere,’” Bassler said. “Our parents were like – ‘What will we do,’ so we lined from the doorway from the outside to the gym entrance with our jayvee players and the posters and everything.
“I stood up on a bench and read their names and the whole thing as each senior walked down the hall, and then they dropped them at the gym, and that was the end of it. We adapted to it, but the best laid plans – it looked so awesome outside. The parents got these cool cars for the kids to drive up in. It was just really neat stuff.”
Although it didn’t go as planned, it was memorable..jpg)
“Our administration did an amazing job and our players and parents although disappointed, followed every direction and did what they had to do,” Bassler said. “So we adapted and gave the girls a memory they hopefully won’t forget.
“There have been a lot of disappointments in 2020, a lot of things canceled, but our match took place.”
The Panthers celebrated by notching a hard earned win in four sets.
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“Bensalem has come such a long way and they have a lot of talented players,” Bassler said. “We won 3-1, but it was a match filled with a lot of great rallies.
“Our seniors really stepped up tonight. I think Morgan Farre and Olivia Kaczmarek played their best matches of their careers. Brianna Zysk was steady in the middle and went on some long serving runs. Julia Booz had a strong night setting as well as on the right side. Sarah Cummins anchored the back row and played libero in all four sets. Finally, Mackenzie Clee came alive after a slow start. She plays everywhere for us and she was everywhere. Front row, back row, serving - it didn’t matter, she got to everything. We are really proud of our seniors and we were really happy and fortunate to get this experience and night in for them.”
The Panthers received important contributions from Clee (3 aces, 4 kills, 10 digs), Julia Richard (3 kills, 3 assists, 14 digs), Zysk (5 kills, 3 aces) and Cummins (20 digs).
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SOL Continental
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23)
The Titans rebounded from a loss in a grueling first set to win the next three for the win over their neighboring rival.
"Tonight was a total team effort against a really tough West squad,” South coach Kurt Godfrey said. “West is always a big match for us because all the girls really know each other. We struggled serving in the first set, I think a little because of nerves, and in the second set we were able to battle back.”
Junior setter Shannon Rector had 33 assists, 17 digs and six aces in a strong all-around outing. Junior outside hitter Millie Grove led the Titans at the net with 20 kills to go along with four aces and 14 digs. Senior outside hitter Courtney Polh added 16 kills, two blocks and 11 digs. Senior opposite Olivia Justus had four aces, seven kills and six digs, and junior defensive specialist Rian Grant had three kills and 21 digs.
“Rian played really well tonight and I am really proud of her,” Godfrey said. “She and Olvia are becoming a big part of our lineup this season. Olivia had some really key kills for us tonight. Millie was really great tonight and is stepping into the role of captain seamlessly. She and Courtney are the type of leaders a coach always wants on their team."
For the Bucks, Brie Livezey had six kills, three aces and one block while Alexis Barklage also had six kills to go along with two blocks. Jada Reichwein contributed four kills, four aces and one block. Setter Maggie McCusker had 21 assists, nine digs, two kills and one ace. Also contributing were Kaitlyn Paley (three kills, three aces, two blocks) and Jordyn Klementovich (one ace, one kill, 13 digs).
SOUDERTON 3, QUAKERTOWN 0
The Indians evened their early season record at 1-1 with a sweep of the Panthers.
“We got the win at our first away game,” coach Cori Watson said. “We saw our hard work pay dividends on the court.
“We will continue to improve all systems of play as we prepare to host Pennridge and celebrate our seniors Friday.”
McKenna Murawski led the defense with 14 digs and three aces. Alyssa Reiner had a big night at the net, finishing with 15 kills and four digs. Grace Petersen had five aces and four digs while Nikki Hamilton (10 assists, three aces) and Gwen Anderson (11 assists) split the setting duties.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, NORTH PENN 1 (16-25, 25-13, 25-22, 25-19)
The Patriots bounced back from a season-opening loss to defeat the Knights, earning their first win of the young season.
“It was a great win,” East coach Kerri Rabberman said. “North Penn came ready to play, and we didn’t have a strong first game.
“I was extremely proud of the team for coming together and just shaking off the first one. This is a team that is extremely hardworking and persistent. They truly come together, and watching them after that first game made me proud. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”
SOL American
UPPER DUBLIN 3, ABINGTON 1
The Flying Cardinals evened their early season record with a win over the Ghosts.
“It was a hard fought win tonight against a tough Abington team,” UD coach Paul Choi said. “Defenders came up with some big saves, and we had contributions from all the hitters.”
Setter Lauren Price dished out 43 assists to go along with two aces, one kill, one block and two digs. Anna Faust ignited the defense with 21 digs, four aces and two assists. Emily Senior led the net attack with 13 kills as well as two blocks and two digs. Lexi Jakubowitz added 10 kills and two digs while Sophia Sabri had nine kills and Casey Broderick, seven kills. Charlotte Qi added four kills, six aces and seven digs while Maggie Faust had nine digs and two kills.
PLYMOUTH WHITMARSH 3, WISSAHICKON 0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-8)
The Lady Colonials earned a sweep of the Trojans, using a balanced attack as five players contributed four or more kills.
PW was led by sophomore outside hitter Neve Straff. Eight different players recorded an ace in the service game, and five players recorded at least five digs with sophomore libero Erin Dolan leading the way with 13 digs.
A bright spot for the Trojans was that they had 32 team digs against the Colonial attack to go with two kills and one service ace. The Colonials had 42 digs, 28 kills and 12 aces and will take on Abington on Tuesday.
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