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2015 High school girls volleyball capsules
Berwick
Head coach: Sarah Warner
Last year’s record: 4-13
Key losses: Tanisha Sampsel
Key returners: Sydney Reigel, Krystal Whitenight, Ellie Ouimet, Krysta Hower, Jessica Prebola, Katelynn Christian
Outlook: Coming off a four-win season in 2014, Sarah Warner is looking to break out in 2015. It also helps the head coach will return all her starters. “Our team is eager to start the season and redeem moments from last year where we under-performed. We expect to be able to compete at a much higher level than we have been able to in the past few years. Games that were tight, we now have the ability to finish on top. Mental toughness is going to be the key,” she said. While the team lost key leader Tanisha Sampsel, Warner does have six seniors and junior returner Madison Traugh. “Leadership and experience should help this team achieve success they haven’t seen before.”
Coughlin
Head coach: Samantha Page
Last year’s record: 1-16
Key losses: Nat Bourdeau, Carmen Garcia
Key returners: Aubrey Wynn, Mykayla Timek, Meghan Kosek, Tamar Bourdeau
Outlook: Just a taste of victory was enough to provide the motivation. The Crusaders and head coach Samantha Page broke a long losing steak in 2014 by breaking into the win column for the first time in a few seasons. “It gave the girls a little taste of what winning feels like, and it made them work that much harder. They know that they can win. Now, they want to do it on a more consistent basis,” she said. Coughlin did lose two valuable seniors off last year’s team, but have a preseason roster of six seniors. “It’s nice to have that veteran club; girls that have that varsity experience,” Page said. “And it makes practice a little easier. We don’t have to take it as slow. We just get right into our drills and start working hard.”
Crestwood
Head coach: Mike Williams
Last year’s record: 14-3
Key losses: Bryanna Hurn
Key returners: Julie Murphy, Karissa Levonoskie,
Outlook: Although the Comets lost all-star Bryanna Hurn, head coach Williams returns most of his starters off a team that finished with 14 wins in 2014. Leading the charge will be Julie Murphy, who will contend for top honors as best libero in the Wyoming Valley Conference. “We don’t like to rebuild. We kind of just reload each year. Our goal is to always be in the top 3 or top 4 in the Wyoming Valley Conference,” Williams said. “We have a lot of returners back, so we have some pretty high expectations for this team. We know that Holy Redeemer is tops in the conference, but we hope to push them.” Crestwood has a tough early-season test next week against Wyoming Area.
Dallas
Head coach: Meredith Recek
Last year’s record: 10-7
Key losses: Mallory Faux, Olivia Musto
Key returners: Kathryn Roberts, Emilee Zawatski
Outlook: Coming off a 10-win season and a berth in the District 2 2A quarterfinals in 2014, Dallas and head coach Meredith Recek has to find a way to replace the leadership of Olivia Musto and Mallory Faux, a first-team Times Leader selection. “We are young, but you can tell how important building chemistry is to our team,” Recek said. “We are going to need to replace two strong players in Mallory and Olivia.” Recek will be looking for a spark from sophomore defensive specialist Emilee Zawatski and 6-foot outside hitter Kathryn Roberts.
GAR
Head coach: Hattie Caruso
Last year’s record: 8-9
Key losses: Jackie Rocha
Key returners: Banessa Flores, Erin Scafella, Marie Skrepenak, Khira Cook, Ariana Contreras
Outlook: Ask head coach Hattie Caruso what the success in 2014 meant, and she don’t lie. “Our confidence is high. Everyone understands what we are trying to do, and wants to be part of this. Our team has grown by leaps and bounds. We are young, but they are strong. We have five returners back,” she said. GAR did lose hitter and blocker Jackie Rocha, but Caruso does return second-team Times Leader selection Banessa Flores, who will be one of the best setters in the WVC. “Banessa works so hard for everything that she achieves,” Caruso said. As for the featured hitter, expect Flores to set up senior Marie Skrepenak, a multiple-year starter in the program.
Hanover Area
Head coach: Bill Kane
Last year’s record: 3-14
Key losses: Chyanne Fine, Shalianna Rios
Key returners: Paige Jaslar, Kaylee Cromer
Outlook: Chemistry. According to Hanover Area head coach Bill Kane, that might be the biggest key for his Hawkeye ladies entering the 2015 season. It’s a young group, but one that hopes to compete through the rigors of the WVC. “We do want to compete in every game,” Kane said. “We had a good summer in terms of conditioning. I think we’ve really improved our defense. The biggest question is chemistry. What kind of chemistry is this team going to have? It’s about forming those bonds, and buying into the system. They play hard, and they practice well. I’m looking forward to the season.” Hanover Area lost Chyanne Fine and Shalianna Rios, and will look for leadership from seniors Kaylee Cromer and Kelly McCarthy.
Hazleton Area
Head coach: Kayla Jeckell
Last year’s record: 13-4
Key losses: Maggie Bono, Alivia Roberts, Julia Rudenko, Brianna Woznicki
Key seniors: Jody Landis, Samantha Manganelli
Outlook: Hazleton Area entered 2014 as a dark horse in the WVC, and lived up to expectations with 13 wins in the league and a berth in the District 2 Class 3A championship. It may be different in 2015 as it could be a rebuilding year in Cougar land. Not only does Hazleton need to replace the steady hand of Maggie Bono in the back row, and the offense of Alivia Roberts and Julia Rudenko, they also have a first-year coach as Kayla Jeckell takes over for Greg Cechak.
Holy Redeemer
Head coach: Jack Kablick
Last year’s record: 17-0
Key losses: Kaya Swanek
Key returners: Lauren Slavoski, Kassie Schinski, Courtney Kijek, Caroline Banas, Amanda Curcio
Outlook: It’s a new year, but it’s the same expectations and dreams at Holy Redeemer as the Lady Royals return a majority of its team that advanced to the PIAA Class 2A state quarterfinals last season. Included in that is all-state player and Times Leader Player of the Year Lauren Slavoski. “Plus, we have a lot of height,” head coach Jack Kablick said. “Having height is one thing, but all of our girls are pretty athletic. These are talented girls that can play.” While most teams look at one or two attackers, expect to see setter Courtney Kijek spread the offense around five powerful hitters – Slavoski, Kassie Schinski, Carolina Banas, Amanda Curcio and Brynn Kukosky. Senior Olivia Mennig will be the team’s libero in 2015.
Lake-Lehman
Head coach: Taryn Tomassacci
Last year’s record: 7-10
Key losses: Danae Sutliff, Lexi Oplinger
Key returners: Emily Keithline, Kaley Egan
Outlook: For the third straight year, Lake-Lehman will have a new coach as Taryn Tomassacci takes over for Kiersten Raymond. And the first-year coach could have a rebuilding season in 2015, losing six seniors — including Times-Leader selection Danae Sutliff. The only four players returning off the 2014 roster include seniors Emily Keithline, Kaley Egan and Miranda Parry and junior Devin Lindley. “They are a very dedicated group, and a coachable team,” Tomassacci said. “They listen to instruction, and they are willing to do whatever is asked of them. They come to practice every day ready to play. The league is good, especially when you have to play against Holy Redeemer, one of the best teams in the state. I’m excited to see what this group can do.”
Meyers
Head coach: Mary Mushock
Last year’s record: 1-16
Key losses: Angela Moses, Gina Strillacci
Key returners: none
Outlook: Coming off a one-win season in 2014, head coach Mary Mushock could find the navigation rough through the WVC in 2015. Meyers lost conference honorable mentions Angela Moses and Gina Strillacci, and will need some underclassmen to step up to replace their leadership and offensive output. The early-season schedule is tough with Nanticoke, Delaware Valley and North Pocono in three of the first five games.
MMI Prep
Head coach: Shawn S. Evans
Last year’s record: 4-13
Key losses: Emily Bogansky
Key returners: Lauren Banyas, Dana Carrato, Desiree Dinko, Gabriella Kupsho
Outlook: MMI Prep might be the smallest team in the WVC, but sixth-year coach Shawn S. Evans still has high expectations. The team returned to the District playoffs for the fourth straight year in 2014, and are hoping to return this season. Evans brings back 10 letter-winners, but has to replace Emily Bogansky, school MVP and an all-conference all-star selection. “We are looking forward to a great season after a tough rebuilding year,” he said. “We have a small core group back that helped us reach our goal of returning to the district playoffs. There is a renewed energy to obtain that goal again.”
Greater Nanticoke Area
Head coach: Debbie Gavin
Last year’s record: 13-4
Key losses: Celeste Deslich, Lauren Rinehimer, Deanna Thomas
Key returners: Abbey Zaykoski, Jenna Lipowski
Outlook: It could be a bit of a rebuilding year at Greater Nanticoke Area as Debbie Gavin graduated several key cogs from last season’s team that reached the semifinals of the District 2 Class 2A tournament. Gone is Celeste Deslich and Lauren Rinehimer, two Times Leader first-team players, and leader Deanna Thomas. In all, a total of seven seniors graduated off that squad. “We are a work in progress,” Gavin said. “I do love this group because they work pretty hard. It’s nice to see that we have a good amount of freshmen that came out for the program, and they are a pretty athletic group with some height. The future looks bright.”
North Pocono
Head coach: Jim Kramer
Last year’s record: 13-4
Key losses: Mallorie Deschaine
Key returners: Katlyn Ivanoff, Amy Domanish, Hannah Bray, Cierra Fantini, Alea Troup
Outlook: Jim Kramer takes over the reins as head coach at North Pocono, taking over for Chris Summa. And Kramer will have big shoes to fill as the Trojans are considered one of the best teams in District 2. Pocono lost one of the best hitters in the WVC as Mallorie Deschaine graduated. Kramer will have the services of Katlyn Ivanoff, who will be one of the premier attackers in 2015. “We have a lot of potential talent. It will come down to capitalizing on that talent, while adjusting to a new coach,” Kramer said. “Hopefully, we can improve throughout the season, and start to peak at districts.”
Pittston Area
Head coach: Danielle McAndrew
Last year’s record: 2-15
Key losses: none
Key returners: Marley O’Brien, Anna McDermott, Meghan Gerrity, Kirsten Durling, Portia Weidlich, Liz Charney
Outlook: Coming off a two-win season, head coach Danielle McAndrew expects big things from her Pittston Area Patriots in 2015. “We are expecting more wins this year,” she said. “We have been working hard this summer by attending camps and running an intramural program.” Back is multi-sport athlete Marley O’Brien, who averaged seven kills and 13 service points in 2015. “She is our best hitter and all-around player,” McAndrew said. Anna McDermott, who averaged close to 17 digs each game, returns as does junior setter Kirsten Durling. “I think we are a dark horse this year,” the head coach said. “They have been playing together now for the last three years, and are ready to kick it up a notch. Our weakness has always been height, but what we lack in height, we make up in jumping ability, speed and coverage.”
Tunkhannock
Head coach: Don Davis
Last year’s record: 7-10
Key losses: Alison Wetherbee
Key returners: Amanda Hardy, Mikayla Mills, Megan Hartshaw
Outlook: Don Davis admits that he doesn’t know what to expect from his Tunkhannock Tigers just yet. And you can’t blame the veteran head coach. He lost Alison Wetherbee, but does return Amanda Hardy, who will be one of the best hitters in the WVC and was a second-team Times Leader selection in 2014.. “We just don’t know what to expect yet,” he said. “In our scrimmages, we’ve been up and down. At times, we have looked good. Other times, we just lost focus. Our numbers are good, and we have talent in our freshman class. Amanda is our lone senior, and we have four juniors. The rest are sophomores and freshman, so we will be young.”
Wyoming Area
Head coach: Nick Diaco
Last year’s record: 9-8
Key losses: Brittany Thomas
Key returners: Jess Sorick, Rachael Solano, Nicole Wright
Outlook: Every year, there is that one dark horse to keep an eye out for. In 2015, look no further than Wyoming Area and head coach Nick Diaco. Coming off a nine-win season and a berth in the district 2A playoffs, the Warriors return almost their entire roster. “The bar has been set high by myself and these girls,” Diaco said. “We have some lofty goals they’ve set for themselves, and they believe they can obtain them.” Leading the charge is Jess Sorick, a senior who earned a spot on the Times Leader second team in 2014. “We have had this year circled on the calendar for a long time now. We always felt that this season could be a breakout one for us,” Diaco said.
Wyoming Valley West
Head coach: R.J. Tomascik
Last year’s record: 11-6
Key losses: Gavyn Giza, Sarah Fugate
Key returners: Grace Giza, Kiersten Wiedwald
Outlook: It’s hard to replace a first-team all-conference selection like Gavyn Giza. But R.J. Tomascik doesn’t have to look hard to try and find someone to fill her shoes. It’s little sister Grace Giza. “Grace has more than 100 kills last year. I don’t know how many people realize that,” Tomascik said. The Spartans, though, may be one year away from a conference title run as Valley West is a junior-laden squad. “We have a nice mix. We have some experience, but others that will have to gain that experience throughout the year. We might take a little step back this year, but I feel that we are going to be competitive. It’s hard to replace Gavyn because she was a great player for us. It’s going to be a big adjustment to a certain degree, but its nice to have Grace, who I think is going to have a great career here.”