The CHSAA volleyball season is long and tough with three games a week, playing each league team at least twice, plus tournaments and practice in between. It’s a test of endurance and strength and the 2018 St. Anthony’s Girls Varsity Volleyball team won the test by earning the top seed going into playoffs with a season record of 12-1.
Having a 13-1 league record is not easy to accomplish in the CHSAA when you play each team twice and everyone is improving weak to weak.
“Our team set goals for ourselves in the beginning of the season; Make it back to league championship game and go home a winner.” Said Head Coach Donna Newman. Newman has been coaching the Friars girls and boys varsity volleyball teams for 28 year and has 11 league titles and three state titles.
The team is looking to capitalize on its strong play this year; with six seniors and six juniors making up the roster the team is well balanced. Senior setter Taylor Morrell runs the offense on the floor and her experience has made her a valuable asset with 420 assist this season. Her assists have been shared with leading hitter Senior Mary Grace Hartmann’s 125 kills, Junior Paige Stavisky’s 118 kills and Senior Alyssa Moskowitz 92 kills. Helping keeping the ball alive is Junior Emma Benes who leads the team in diggs with 200. “Every player on this team makes a difference,” said Newman “our strong blocking due of Hartmann, Benes and Junior Emma Sullivan are a big part of the success.”
Early in the season the team lost defensive specialist Junior Grace Rail to an injury requiring surgery leaving the team with gap of position requiring everyone to step of there level of play, and it showed. But heading into playoffs a team wants to have enough key player for each position. Newman’s varsity team has been very fortunate to have a very successful JV team who also owns the top seed going into playoffs. The strength of that team allowed Newm
an to find sophomore defensive specialist Yamileth Torres, and bring her up at the end of the season. Newman said, “Torres gives us another layer, she is a strong server and has a keen sense of awareness on the court.” Torres made her varsity debut vs. St. John the Baptist on October 25th in the teams win of 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 25-21, a good example of how strong this league is when you have to go more than 3 games a match.
Playoff begin November 4th at St. Dominic’s High School at 4:00 PM vs. St. John the Baptist.
Come Out and Support Your Friars
By Friar Staff Writer Jr. Larisa Dorrian
