Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Above, Shelby Morgan, left and Jill Heron, from Abington Heights
ABINGTONS – High school girls’ volleyball is a little more than halfway through its season and two local teams are gearing up for the playoffs.
Abington Heights
The Abington Heights High School girls’ volleyball team is off to a good start this year. Leading the team this season are senior captains Lizz Emmett, Ashley Reese and Kaleigh Namiotka. Also returning this year are senior Jill Heron and juniors Shelby Morgan and Meghan Fraley.
New to the team this year are senior Sarah Flowers; juniors Justine Leininger, Liz Jamison and Nichole Heil and sophomore Maggie Fruehan.
The girls are coached by Dan Phillips.
Abington Heights is 7-3 on the season. The girls lost to Holy Redeemer High School on Sept. 5. They also lost to Dallas High School on Sept. 19 and Crestwood High School on Sept. 29. A big victory for the girls came on Sept. 25 against school rival Tunkhannock, a match Abington Heights won, 3-1.
Two important upcoming matches for Abington Heights are against Hazleton Area High School on Oct. 14 and against Delaware Valley High School on Oct. 20; games that could determine what seed the teams will be in the playoffs.
“They’re a fun group,” Phillips said. “They’re one of the most athletic classes that I’ve had on the girls’ side. They’re really a fun group to watch play.”
The Abington Heights girls are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 8, when they hit the road to take on Nanticoke High School. The match starts at 4:30 p.m.
Lackawanna Trail
The Lackawanna Trail High School girls’ volleyball team is also having a great season. Returning to lead the team this year are senior captains Kelsi Curran and Dana Reese. Also returning are seniors Paige Ross and Lisa Walter and juniors Alyssa Dippel and Ashley Loss.
New additions to the team are juniors Elizabeth Stuenzi, Briana Lindsey and Bethany Ross. Lackawanna Trail is coached by Deb Wozniak.
The girls are 8-2 on the season so far. A huge victory came on Sept. 29 against Susquehanna High School. Both teams were 7-2 at the time of the match, and will continue to battle throughout the remainder of the season for the number one “A” seed at Districts.
A big match remaining for the Lackawanna Trail girls will come on the last day of the regular season. The girls will travel to Susquehanna on Oct. 22 to play a final match against their rival that could decide the placement for districts.
According to Coach Wozniak, the team has been without their starting setter, senior captain Kelsi Curran, because of a sprained ankle she received at practice. “We don’t know when she will be back,” said Wozniak, “so we have been making adjustments to our offense.” Curran already had to sit out during the team’s loss to Elk Lake High School on Oct. 2, but the team hopes that she can return to the court soon.
Lackawanna Trail will play their next match at home on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. against Forest City School.