DIVISION I
Blue Mountain
Head coach: Nick Marrongelle (4th season)
Last year: 14-4, 11-2 D-I, District 11 AAA semifinalist
Returnees: Brittney Moyer (sr., OH), Alex Ferrier (jr., MH), Alexis Juritsch (jr., OH), Nicole McQuillan (jr., MH), Jordan Skoff (soph., OPP), Maya Throne (soph., L)
Newcomers: Erika Gerace (jr., OH), Hannah Long (jr., OPP), Christie Challenger (soph., MH), Haley Weist (soph., DS), Ashley Snesavage (fr., S)
Outlook: The Eagles, whose Division I title quest in 2013 was derailed by two losses to Pottsville, are poised to contend again with the return of Republican-Herald first-team player Moyer and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Throne, who will work at libero. The Eagles will also be strong in the middle with the return of Ferrier and McQuillan.
Jim Thorpe
Head coach: Erin Kuhn (3rd season)
Last year: 9-10, 6-7 D-I
Returnees: Riley Carroll (sr., S), Makenzie Walck (sr., MH), Nicole Nace (sr., RS), Erin Shigo (jr., OH)
Newcomers: Emily Ruffa (sr., RS), Jillian Peterson (soph., MH), Mackenzie Rosenberger (fr., OH), Alex McGinley (fr., DS)
Outlook: Led by co-captains Carroll and Shigo at setter and outside hitter, respectively, and Walck in the middle, the Olympians will bring a veteran team onto the court as most of the players have competed on the AAU level in addition to the scholastic ranks. Kuhn said communication will be a key for her team as it tries to mount an offense.
Lehighton
Head coach: Timothy O’Connor (4th season)
Last year: 13-5, 8-4 Mountain Valley Conference, MVC qualifier, District 11 AA qualifier
Returnees: Holly Hinkle (sr., DS), Brianna Karpowicz (sr., OH), Michaela Petrucci (sr., OH), Alyssa Jordan (jr., MH), Katie Higgins (jr., OH)
Newcomers: Andrea Schafer (jr., OH), Tori Eads-Rodriguez (jr., S)
Outlook: While O’Connor has a 35-19 record over the past three seasons, Lehighton will field a markedly less experienced squad in its first season in the Schuylkill League. The coach said his team must replace 600 points of offense from last season and expects that workload to be spread among several players, including Karpowicz, Petrucci and Jordan. O’Connor said passing after serve-receive will be critical for his team.
Pottsville
Head coach: Maria Sherakas (17th season)
Last year: 16-3, 13-0 D-I champion, Schuylkill League runner-up, District 11 AAA quarterfinalist
Returnees: Kendra Boris (sr., DS-L), Mariah Curry (sr., MH), Kyra Varano (sr., OH-S), Brianne Verdier (sr., DS)
Newcomers: Erin Goodman (jr., OH), Leah Guzick (jr., S), Lilly Seiders (jr., MH), Kasie Shaw (jr., OH), Taylor Young (jr., DS), Emily Zelinsky (jr., OH), Kyra Schenk (soph., MH), Madison Sherakas (soph., OH)
Outlook: With 229 career wins as Pottsville’s head coach in 16 prior seasons, Sherakas returns to direct the Crimson Tide, who attempt to return to the Schuylkill League championship match. Several starters from that squad are back, including Boris, Curry and Varano, but the losses of Republican-Herald first-team stars Hannah Corbacio at setter and Haley Drum as an outside hitter and Republican-Herald honorable mentions Karlena Bartashus at middle hitter and Caren Moyer at libero will be hard to replace.
Tamaqua
Head coach: Stacy Setlock (6th season)
Last year: 4-12, 2-11 D-I
Returnees: Vanessa Solt (sr., RS-DS), Yeni Benigno DeJesus (sr., DS), Alexis Baddick (jr., MH), Kaelyn Boran (jr., S)
Newcomers: Deidra Ressler (soph., RS), Olivia Matula (soph., DS), Andrea Iacoviello (soph., OH-DS), Carly Kosiolek (fr., MH)
Outlook: After her program doubled its win total from a year ago, Setlock said the Blue Raiders will undergo a rebuilding season with a squad that contains just two seniors. The squad’s tallest player is 5-foot-9, so the coach said serving well will be a particularly important component of Tamaqua’s attack. Some wins early will do much for the Blue Raiders’ confidence.
DIVISION II
Lourdes
Head coach: Tara Bregensir (1st season)
Last year: 2-18, 2-11 D-II
Returnees: Caity Funk (jr., OH), Amber Kogut (sr., OH)
Newcomers: Maya Yoder (jr,., OH), Jessy Stankavage (jr., OH), Carmella Bickel (soph., S), Tyra Ericson (soph., S), Elizabeth Alexander (soph., OH)
Outlook: A former assistant coach for Tom O’Brien, who became an assistant at Shamokin, Bregensir will attempt to improve a program which has gone 5-35 over the past two seasons. Hoping to improve the team’s motivation as she builds the program, Bregensir said she is hoping strong serving will deliver points for the Red Raiders.
Marian
Head coach: John Fallabel (12th season)
Last year: 24-2, 13-0 D-IV champion, Schuylkill League champion, District 11 A champion, PIAA A champion
Returnees: Abby O’Donnell (sr., S), Cassandra Hoban (sr., MH), Alex Stroia (sr., OH), Lauren Nietz (sr., L), Kaylee Ceci (sr., OPP), Rachel Meier (sr., DS), Emily Pilla (jr., MH), Abby Stankiewitch (jr., MH), Maureen Kloap (jr., OH), Kaylee Ceci (sr., OPP),
Newcomers: Courtney McCall (jr., S), Danielle Spillman (jr., S-DS), Miranda Antiga (soph., OH), Gianna Agosti (fr., DS), Jasmine Mooney (fr., OH)
Outlook: The graduation of Republican-Herald Player of the Year Grace Boyle and the Fillies’ move to Division II are significant changes, but many of the players from last year’s state championship team are back, including Republican-Herald first-team setter O’Donnell, second-team outside hitter Pilla, second-team middle hitter Stankiewitch and honorable-mention libero Nietz. Therefore, Marian will be favored to take the Division II title and will contend for the league championship again.
North Schuylkill
Head coach: Katie Malone (1st season)
Last year: 6-12, 4-9 D-I
Returnees: Carly Gregas (sr., MH), Lacey Deeter (sr., S-DS), Brianna Lopez (sr., OH-DS), Rebecca Gregoire (sr., OPP), Alex Morgan (sr., OH), Jamie Wolfgang (sr., OH)
Newcomers: Leanna Gregas (soph., MH-OH), Bria Hocking (soph., L)
Outlook: Malone will enter her first head coaching position after six years as an assistant. She will work with a veteran lineup featuring six seniors, but Leanna Gregas also returns after starting as a freshman. Malone said serving will be an area that the Spartans must improve this season.
Panther Valley
Head coach: Nancy Filer (15th season)
Last year: 10-5, 9-4 D-II
Returnees: Jessica Wiese (sr., MH), Macey Markovich (sr., OH), Kelsey Van Horn (jr., OH-S), Jamey Mikovich (jr., MH)
Newcomers: Emily Drissel (sr., DS), Erin Evans (sr., OH), Cara Hoffman (sr., OH), Cassidy Ryan (jr., OH), Hannah Hill (jr., MH), Alexandra Kennedy (jr., L), Danielle Hudicka (soph., S-OH)
Outlook: The additions of Marian and Lehighton to the Panthers’ schedule complicates a season in which Panther Valley could contend for Division II honors. Panther Valley returns four starters in Wiese, Markovich, Mikovich and Van Horn, a Republican-Herald All-Area honorable mention who is versatile as both an outside hitter and setter. Hill and Ryan add veteran presences to the squad.
Pine Grove
Head coach: Sasha Birosik (1st season)
Last year: 12-6, 10-3 D-II champion, Schuylkill League semifinalist, District 11 AA quarterfinalist
Returnees: Holly Martin (sr., DS), Marla Stoner, (sr., S-RS), Kayla Bressler (sr., MH), Alyssa Hatter (sr., MH-OH), Brandi Wetzel (jr., DS), Taylor Dietrich (jr., OH-MH), Callie Edwards (jr., S-RS). Chantel Christiansen (jr., DS), Maddiln Carey (jr., OH-DS), Alexa Kolb (soph., MH-OH)
Newcomers: McKayla Lally (soph., DS-OH), Kayla Zimmerman (soph., S-DS)
Outlook: The biggest change for the Cardinals occurs on the bench, where Birosik takes over for longtime head coach Daryl Wessner, whose two stints in the post produced a 218-73 record and nine Division II crowns. That includes last season with a team that had no seniors. Many of those players return, including Bressler, a Republican-Herald second-team performer in 2013.
DIVISION III
Halifax
Head coach: Jackie Miller (5th season)
Last year: 15-5, 11-2 D-III champion, Schuylkill League semifinalist, District 3 A semifinalist
Returnees: Amber Laudenslager (sr., MH), Paige Miller (sr., OH-RS-S), Shannon Buggy (sr., OH-DS), Autumn Capouillez (sr., RS-S)
Newcomers: Allison Costa (sr., RS), Kendall Lehman (jr., MH-OH), Molly Smith (jr., DS), Tori Lupold (jr., DS)
Outlook: With the graduation of PVCA Class A all-state setter Catherine Amoriello, Miller has had to shuffle positions of several players, but the Wildcats return a solid core, led by Republican-Herald all-star honorable mention Laudenslager at middle hitter. Miller, an all-around performer at three positions, returns after her All-Twin Valley Conference second-team nod of a year ago.
Millersburg
Head coach: Richard Berg (2nd season)
Last year: 9-10, 6-7 D-III, District 3 A quarterfinalist
Returnees: Amber Roach (sr., S), Samantha Hines (sr., OH), Audra Dohrman (sr., MH), Kelsey Koppenhaver (sr., OH), Jessica Millard (sr., MH), Taryn Herb (jr., MH),
Newcomers: None reported
Outlook: Millersburg will field a team with several returning players, including senior setter Roach and several hitters. Hines returns after she was an All-Twin Valley Conference second-team player last season. Millard and Herb were All-Twin Valley honorable mentions. The returning experience may enable the Indians to challenge Division III powers Halifax and Tri-Valley for division supremacy.
Tri-Valley
Head coach: Heather Drumheller (4th season)
Last year: 11-6, 9-4 D-III, District 11 A semifinalist
Returnees: Alexis Artz (sr., L), Reagan Newswanger (jr., S), Maddie Deibert (jr., OH), Cat Troutman (jr., OH)
Newcomers: Liz Otto (sr., S-RS), Jordyn Ebersole (sr., RS)
Outlook: Two losses to Halifax last season prevented a return to the Schuylkill League playoffs for the Dawgs. Tri-Valley must replace the graduated Jordan Schwalm, who was a Republican-Herald first-team and District 11 Class A first-team all-star in 2013. Deibert, who earned a District 11 Class A all-star second-team nod as a sophomore, is back along with Artz and Newswanger, both All-Twin Valley Conference honorable mentions in 2013.
Upper Dauphin
Head coach: Terry Bowser (2nd season)
Last year: 9-11, 5-8 D-III
Returnees: Taylor Brown (sr., S-OH), Colleen Kolva (sr., S), Nichole Campbell (sr., MH), Brie Kauffman (sr., OH), Laura Sweger (jr., MH-OH).
Newcomers: Madissen Miller (jr., S), Alexis Bowser (jr., OH), Kelsey Hoffman (jr., OH-S)
Outlook: After his team improved its record by three wins from the preceding season, Bowser returns for his second season at the helm with a taller squad. Whitni Rudisill, a Republican-Herald All-Area honorable mention last season, has graduated, but the Trojans return Brown, an All-Twin Valley Conference second-team performer, along with All-TVC honorable-mention players Kolva and Sweger.
Williams Valley
Head coach: Judy Schappe (1st season)
Last year: 3-17, 0-13 D-III
Returnees: Olivia Ancheff (sr., MH), Bindy Boyer (sr., S), Maura Kreiser (sr., OH), Linda Kraska (sr., S), Lindsay Matter (sr., MH), Jenna Daniel (jr., MH), Morgan Matter (jr., S-OH), Rylie Thomas (soph., L-OH), Brittany Rhoades (soph., MH), Kaila Laskowski (soph., OH), Savanna Slough (soph., MH)
Newcomers: Jasmine Ragland (sr., OH). Haley Nestor (sr., OH), Brooke Miller (sr., OH), Brittney Drey (fr., OH)
Outlook: Schappe succeeds Hannah Schwak as head coach after the Vikings won eight matches over the past two seasons. The new coach hopes to rebuild the program while instilling a more positive attitude among the players, who include three seniors who are first-year players.
DIVISION IV
Mahanoy Area
Head coach: Chris Fallabel (1st season)
Last year: 7-10, 5-8 D-II
Returnees: Noelle Kaufman (sr., S-OH), Mychaellah Lucas (jr., S-OH), Samantha Gnall (jr., S-DS), Mickayla Backo (jr., OPP)
Newcomers: Cali Snyder (sr., OH), Kiera Burke (sr., L), Rylee Kane (sr., MH), Amber McCarthy (sr., DS), Katie Babinsky (sr., DS), Rebecca Herring (sr., DS)
Outlook: Fallabel, the son of Marian head coach John Fallabel, takes over at Mahanoy Area after previous head coaching turns at both Jim Thorpe and Hazleton. He will lead a tall squad led by Kaufman and Lucas and said the defense will be a work in progress. How quickly the Golden Bears find their defensive footing may determine how quickly Mahanoy Area, moved from Division II, contends for a division title.
Minersville
Head coach: Kenton Martin (3rd season)
Last year: 8-12, 4-9 D-IV
Returnees: Cassidy Mason (sr., S), Stef Curran (sr., OPP), Kayleigh Purcell (sr., DS), Meg Schwalm (jr., L), Lauren Womer (jr., S), Alexis Huntzinger (jr., MH), Emily Bartashus (soph., OH), Maura Bentz (soph., S), Erica Nettles (soph., OH)
Newcomers: Abby Schappe (jr., DS), Reiley Lonergan (soph., MH)
Outlook: The Battlin’ Miners could enjoy a breakout season because nearly the entire varsity team from 2013 is back. That includes Schwalm, a libero who earned Republican-Herald honorable mention and District 11 Class A second-team mention last season. Martin said this year’s team is an athletic squad that will need to develop chemistry as the season proceeds to challenge Nativity for the division crown.
Nativity
Head coach: Jennifer Daubert (3rd season)
Last year: 13-4, 11-2 D-IV, District 11 A finalist
Returnees: Laura Bolich (sr., DS), Jocelyn Holobetz (jr., OH), Ashley Strausser (jr., OH), Carley Lionetto (jr., L), Noelle Steele (soph., S)
Newcomers: Cecelia DiNicola (jr., MH), Shannon Reiley (jr., MH), Desiree Reigel (soph., DS), Allegra Miske (soph., S-DS), Emily Yordy (fr., OH)
Outlook: After losses to Marian both ended the team’s Division IV title bid and season in 2013, the move of the Fillies to Division II opens the door for a young Nativity team, which fields only one senior. Paired with fellow junior Strausser at the position, Holobetz, a Republican-Herald second-team selection, returns at outside hitter to pace a squad that features a sophomore setter in Steele.
Schuylkill Haven
Head coach: Nan Addvensky (8th season)
Last year: 3-17, 3-10 D-II
Returnees: Malory Medaglia (sr., OH), Kaylee Read (sr., MH), Julie Hartz (sr., OH), Emily Yakobosky (sr., L), Macy Dayson (jr., OH), Ashley Ferrando (jr., S), Madison Felty (soph., MH), Madison Moyer (soph., OH), Kiara Harris (soph., L)
Newcomers: Lexy Pascucci (fr., S), Tori Pascucci (fr., S), Kaitlyn Tinari (fr., OH)
Outlook: The Hurricanes are fielding a small squad this season, but Addvensky is impressed with the work ethic of a squad that moves from Division II to Division IV and a new set of opponents. A squad with greater varsity experience, the veteran group is led by Medaglia, who brings height to a lineup that will stress the basics, including serve-receive.
Shenandoah Valley
Head coach: Leanne Kayes (7th season)
Last year: 5-13, 5-8 D-IV
Returnees: Kristina Nieddu (sr., S), Mariah Sands (sr., OH), Marcella Creasy (jr., MH-OH), Alaina Demalis (jr., L)
Newcomers: Shatiana Sanabria (sr., OH-DS), Molly Michalik (soph., OH), Allison Wargo (fr., OH), Madison Kowalik (fr., DS)
Outlook: The Blue Devils’ quest to return to the postseason after a year’s absence will be undertaken by a smaller team led by Nieddu, who returns at setter, and a front line led by Sands and Creasy. Because of the smaller team, freshmen Wargo and Kowalik may be asked to contribute immediately.
Weatherly
Head coach: Kristy Fiore (1st season)
Last year: 3-17, 1-12 D-IV
Returnees: Sammy Hartz (sr., OH-MH), Megan McClintock (jr., OH-MH)), Alexis Hartz (jr., OH-MH), Talysa Eichelberger (jr., S), Jackie Gillot (jr., S)
Newcomer: Kim Carter (fr., DS-OH)
Outlook: Fiore, a former head coach at Hazleton, returns to the bench after about five years off. She said the Wreckers will undergo a rebuilding year with a small team, but the return of Sammy and Alexis Hartz will help the transition. Fiore is optimistic that Carter will contribute to the varsity squad as a freshman.
Perhaps there is no one more indicative of the change this season in the Schuylkill League volleyball ranks than Chris Fallabel.
During Marian’s PIAA Class A championship run last fall, the son of Marian head coach John Fallabel was in Marian’s gymnasium, helping the Fillies to prepare for their state championship match against Cochranton.
This year, though, the younger Fallabel has traded the blue of Marian’s school colors for the black of Mahanoy Area as that school’s new head coach.
“It’s not too weird,” Chris Fallabel said about the switch. “Marian’s the defending state champ. They’re in our league. It speaks well of our league. Nativity’s always a good power in our league. Tri-Valley’s been up-and-coming the last couple of years as well. Hopefully, with our athleticism, we can shoot for some goals this year.”
Not only is Fallabel, a former head coach at both Jim Thorpe and Hazleton, a new presence, but there is a good reason he mentioned Nativity and Tri-Valley.
While Mahanoy Area was a member of the Schuylkill League’s Division II last fall, the Golden Bears will face those teams as a member now of Division IV.
In a bit of irony, Mahanoy Area has been replaced in Division II by Marian. The Fillies’ presence there will add a new challenge not just to defending Division II champion Pine Grove, but also to Division I, which has undergone its own change with the addition of Lehighton.
Couple those moves with the hiring of several new coaches such as Chris Fallabel, and it produces a lot of question marks entering the 2014 season. So let’s break it down.
New faces
Chris Fallabel is merely one of several changes in the Schuylkill League coaching community, but one who feels he has walked into a solid program led by former head coach Sara Behler.
“Some coaches, they like to rebuild from the beginning,” he said. “I just happened to walk in having a great group of seniors and juniors. I’ve got a good amount of height, so it’s always going to be an advantage in any game, having the height we do.”
For that reason, Fallabel is preaching a more aggressive approach.
“I’m preaching one thing to the girls — that every ball is attacked,” he said. “Nothing is free. Everything is an attack. We want other teams to realize that they don’t get a play off.”
Another intriguing change has occurred at Pine Grove, where Nativity graduate Sasha Birosik has replaced Daryl Wessner, who won more than 200 matches in two stints as head coach there.
“One good thing is they didn’t have any seniors last year, so there is a lot of leadership this year,” said Birosik, a former player at Lebanon Valley College. “We have four seniors.”
Other new coaches in the league include former assistant Tara Bregensir’s rise to the head coaching post at Lourdes and hirings of Katie Malone at North Schuylkill, Judy Schappe at Williams Valley and Kristy Fiore at Weatherly, which has its third new head coach in three years.
And then there is the return of longtime head coach Maria Sherakas, who returns to the helm at Pottsville after Lauren Shandor led the Crimson Tide for three seasons and then resigned. Noting she left the job after 16 seasons and 229 wins because her daughter was playing junior high basketball, Sherakas said she had been advising Shandor during that time and so just returns to her familiar post.
“The personnel is different,” Sherakas said. “We do lose four good girls who were starters and players, so it’s more or less just a reloading technique. Just go in and reload with athletes and dedicated players and still instill teamwork.”
Division changes
The addition of a 21st team to the league has led to a shuffle of divisions in which Divisions I, II and III have five teams each. Mahanoy Area moves into a six-team Division IV.
“You had the two best teams in your league in Marian and Nativity, always ranked in the top five in the state, and one never got to play for a league title, so I think it’s an interesting landscape change,” Chris Fallabel said. “I think it’s for the better.”
Birosik agrees, even though Marian now enters the Cardinals’ division as the likely favorite.
“When I was in high school, they were our rivals,” she said. “I like it. They’re challenging. They are a good team.”
Bring on Lehighton
The Indians may be new, but a familiar face, former Blue Mountain head coach Timothy O’Connor, will direct them into their first season in Division I.
Noting Wessner was a mentor to him, the Tamaqua graduate said the Indians relish the chance to leave the much smaller Mountain Valley Conference.
“The Schuylkill League has a different mentality,” O’Connor said. “They have the kind of individuals who will work as hard as they can to win. It’s that tough image they have. ... That’s what I’m trying to get across to our girls.”
Sherakas said Lehighton’s addition will only add to the better competition ensured by the division realignment.
“T.J.’s a good coach,” she said. “He knows the game and he coaches players. It’s going to be a tough match. We’ve got to come out and play.”