UPPER MERION GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
Coach: Tony Funsten (20th year)
Assistant coach: Laura Funsten (7th year)
Last year’s record: 14-0 SOL American Conference champions, advanced to state semifinals
Upper Merion has won the last six SOL titles and 14 of the 19 seasons the teams has competed. This is the 20th year volleyball is a varsity sport at Upper Merion, and Funsten - the only coach the program has ever had - has 581 wins.
Notable losses: Setter Natalie O’Neil, right side hitter Casey Griffith
Key players: “We plan to run a 6-2 this year for the first time in six years. We will field our tallest team ever with middle hitters 5'11" Ami Daniels and 6'1' Niki Carpenter. Our right side hitters will be 6'1" Eryn Brady and 5'10" Carolyn Helenski. Both outside hitters are back from last year's state semifinal team, Emily Shannon and four-year starter and all-state player Melanie Ingram. Our setters will be Ashley Shannon and Carlye Odorisio. Both are seasoned volleyball players but first year varsity setters. Our libero will be Kailyn McNamee and our DS is Micaela Ghanayem.”
Outlook: “The goals for this year’s team are the usual ones: win the SOL American Conference title, reclaim the district title we had won two years in a row before finishing third last season and winning the first state championship in Upper Merion sports history. We believe that all the goals are achievable but certainly all will be difficult.
“The American Conference race will be hotly contested with Hatboro-Horsham. The District One title is wide open with no clear favorite. Mount St. Joseph’s, Bishop Shanahan, Unionville, Downingtown East, Strath Haven, Garnet Valley, Council Rock North, Pennsbury, CB West, William Tennent, North Penn, CB East, Hatboro-Horsham are all capable of beating anyone on their best day. The state championship? Well, that can only be thought of after getting through the District One Tournament, which each year gets tougher and tougher. This year will be no different.”
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