Schuylkill League Girls’ Volleyball Semifinal Preview Capsule
When: Today, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Thomas Fitzpatrick Gymnasium, Minersville Area High School
Ticket prices: $5 per adult, $3 per student
First Semifinal
Marian (14-2) vs. Nativity (16-2)
About Marian
Head coach: Dr. John Fallabel (13th season)
How they got here: Division II champion with a 13-0 league record
Starting rotation: Gianna Agosti (soph., L), Maureen Kloap (sr., OH), Courtney McCall (sr., S), Jasmine Mooney (soph., OH-OPP), Abby Pilla (sr., MH), Danielle Spillman (sr., DS), Abigail Stankiewitch (sr., MH).
Key facts: Two-time defending league champion Fillies face Nativity in the semifinals after beating the Green Wave in three sets in last year’s league final. ... Stankiewitch recently surpassed 800 career kills ... Marian beat Nativity 25-17, 25-21, 25-22 on Oct. 12. The win was one of an ongoing streak of 43 straight victories by Marian against league opponents since a loss to Pottsville in the 2012 league semifinals.
About Nativity
Head coach: Jennifer Daubert (4th season)
How they got here: Division IV champion with a 15-0 league record
Starting rotation: Cecelia DiNicola (sr., MH), Jocelyn Holobetz (sr., OH), Carley Lionetto (sr., L), Shannon Reiley (sr., MH), Noelle Steele (jr., S), Ashley Strausser (sr., OH), Emily Yordy (sr., RS)
Key facts: Nativity won its second straight Division IV championship since Marian’s move to Division II. ... The Green Wave have won nine of their past 10 matches, with the loss to Marian as the lone setback. ... Holobetz recently passed 1,000 career kills and is closing in on 700 career assists and 700 career digs. ... Steele has more than 1,000 career assists.
Second Semifinal
Blue Mountain (17-1) vs. Tri-Valley (15-3)
About Blue Mountain
Head coach: Nick Marrongelle (5th season)
How they got here: Division I champion with a 12-1 league record
Starting rotation: Alex Ferrier (sr., MH), Lex Juritsch (sr., OH), Hannah Long (sr., OPP), Nicole McQuillan (sr., MH), Jordan Skoff (jr., OH), Ashley Snesavage (soph., S), Maya Throne (jr., L),
Key facts: The Eagles return to the league semifinals with a 10-match winning streak. ... Blue Mountain features the past two Republican-Herald All-Area Rookies of the Year in Throne, who has more than 1,000 career digs and Snesavage, who has surpassed 1,000 career assists. ... Blue Mountain has lost only to Marian and won its second straight Division I title.
About Tri-Valley
Head coach: Alice Scheib (1st season)
How they got here: Division III champion with a 12-2 league record
Starting rotation: Tara Bernes (jr., L), Kylee Clark (jr., MH), Alyssa Connell (sr., RS), Maddie Deibert (sr., OH), Reagan Newswanger (sr., S), Kat Sherry (sr., OH), Cat Troutman (sr., MH)
Key facts: The Bulldogs return to the league semifinals for the first time in three years after Halifax and Millersburg won the past two Division III titles. ... Tri-Valley won the Schuylkill League championship in 2012 in a five-set victory over Pottsville. ... The Bulldogs are the only team coming off a loss, to Shamokin last Saturday. ... Deibert and Troutman lead Tri-Valley in kills.
Up next
Schuylkill League championship match
Thursday, 7 p.m. at Martz Hall
— Compiled by Chuck Curley