Team chemistry is as important as it is overlooked in high school athletics.
But that all-important tangible wasn’t lost on four midstate girls’ volleyball teams that had breakthrough seasons for their respective programs.
Moments after her Cumberland Valley team fell in five games to Upper Merion in the opening round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs, head coach Jackie Orner made the following statement:
“I wouldn’t have wanted to make this journey with any other group of girls.”
Orner was referring to a season in which the Eagles dealt with the loss of their biggest impact player, Rachel Snyder, to a season-ending injury. A huge blow to a team that had high expectations, but Orner’s charges managed to adjust their roles and check any egos at the door en route to a District 3-AAA championship, the first current Mid-Penn team to do so since 1986.
Instead of leaning on one go-to player, the Eagles used the steady presence in the middle from Kelly Friers as she deftly distributed the ball to a host of players such as Karleigh Lutz, Elizabeth Scott and Kristine Jahn. In the back row, libero Bethany Gould became a defensive leader and a dig machine.
Halifax, meanwhile, captured its second straight District 3-A championship after a back-and-forth five-game win over Dayspring Christian Academy.
It wasn’t as easy as you might think, though.
Wildcats head coach Jackie Miller said there were plenty of bumps in the road during the regular season and that the ‘Cats had to find their chemistry once again. Once it clicked, Halifax was off and running as the Wildcats knocked off Lititz Christian, Mount Calvary and Dayspring en route to the 3-A title.
Miller’s team eventually fell in the opening round of the PIAA Class A playoffs to state runner-up Williamson. The postseason play of Amber Coppula, Tess Kieffer and Catherine Amoriello were instrumental in getting Halifax through its midseason struggles.
Trinity senior Hannah Fry said the 2012 season for the Shamrocks was “perfect” when it came to personalities meshing and everyone getting along.
It showed as Fry, Katie Goyette, Katie Wohlschlegel, Olivia Shine and Gabi Oakes helped lead Trinity to a third straight Mid-Penn Colonial title and a trip to the District 3-AA quarterfinals, where it fell in five games to eventual 3-AA runner-up Berks Catholic.
Finally, Palmyra head coach Clark Sheaffer was able to get the Cougars in contention in the Mid-Penn Colonial, even going so far as to knock off division powerhouse Trinity.
The Cougars weathered a late-season injury to setter Jennifer Rusling and still made it to the District 3-AA semifinals where the Lebanon County club came within one victory of advancing to the PIAA Class AA playoffs.
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Your commemorative 2012 high school sports all-star section will be on newstands Wednesday, Dec. 5. The section is filled with photos, profiles and articles highlighting the midstate's finest athletes. Be sure to pick up a copy to remember the hard work, dedication and achievements earned by Central Pa.'s sporting stars.