Penn-Trafford avenges loss to Hempfield, moves atop section standings
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Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 12:06 AM
Penn-Trafford’s Kylie Anthony hits against Hempfield’s Preslee Horchak on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Ava Ruane blocks the shot of Hempfield’s Claire Mitchell on Tuesday at Hempfield.
Penn-Trafford’s Rachel Ambrose hits against Hempfield on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Ava Ruane sets against Hempfield on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Kamryn Pieper hits against Hempfield’s Ella Berkebile and Gabriella Coccia (21) on Tuesday.
Hempfield’s Sadie Kuhns hits against Penn-Trafford’s Ava Ruane on Tuesday.
Hempfield’s Jillian Sowers hits against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday.
Hempfield’s Ella Berkebile hits against Penn-Trafford’s Delaney Freas on Tuesday.
Hempfield’s Jillian Sowers plays against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Kylie Anthony blocks the shot of Hempfield’s Claire Mitchell on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Ella McDonald hits against Hempfield’s Ella Berkebile on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Ella McDonald hits against Hempfield’s Ella Berkebile on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Josie Schubert defends on Hempfield’s Sadie Kuhns on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Josie Schubert defends on Hempfield’s Sadie Kuhns on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Ella McDonald blocks the shot of Hempfield’s Preslee Horchak on Tuesday.
Penn-Trafford’s Ella McDonald blocks the shot of Hempfield’s Preslee Horchak on Tuesday.
In September, the Hempfield girls volleyball team visited Penn-Trafford and came away with a 3-2 victory.
Both teams came into Tuesday’s rematch with 5-1 records in Section 3-4A, so first place heading into the stretch run was at stake at Spartan Fieldhouse. The Warriors turned the tables on the Spartans, winning 3-1 (25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21) to take sole possession of the section lead.
“That match was early in the season for us,” Penn-Trafford coach Tracy McDonald said. “We have a lot of younger kids, and we only have three girls who have ever played on a varsity court before. We now have a couple of players in different places than we did back then, and we have been working to just improve since then.”
The Warriors jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set, and they were able to capitalize of several Hempfield service errors in the second set. The last two sets were back and forth, with Hempfield overcoming a six-point deficit in winning the third set.
The final set was tied 21-21 before the Warriors scored the final four points to win the match. Penn-Trafford shared the wealth at the net, getting a great match from five hitters. That is by design, McDonald said.
“I always said to the players we are not going to be heavy on one kid. Everybody can have a bad game, and everybody else can pick up the slack in order to win consistently,” McDonald said.
Senior Kylie Anthony and sophomore Ella McDonald, the coach’s daughter, stood out for the Warriors.
“Both of them have done very well this season,” McDonald said of her hitters. “Kylie is a senior and has had some varsity time. The kids look to her as a leader, and someone that is consistent with the ball. She really held her own tonight.”
One of the players who stood out in the back line for the Warriors, leading the team defensively and orchestrating the offense, was senior Kaci DePalma.
“I thought she had a great game tonight,” McDonald said of her libero. “She is one of the girls that has had some varsity experience. She used to hit a little bit, but we moved her to libero because of her leadership.”
Hempfield (7-5, 5-2) was paced by Claire Mitchell’s 16 kills, and Ella Berkebile added 11. Junior Preslee Horchak dished out 37 assists for the Spartans, who face Connellsville in a section contest in their next match.
With the victory, the Warriors are over .500 (7-6) overall, and with section matches against Plum, Norwin and Connellsville remaining, Penn-Trafford now controls its own destiny for a section title.
“I think the girls were really set on this game tonight, and it was one of the bigger games,” McDonald said. “They need to make sure they realize that all of the next games are big games as well. They can’t let their guard down the rest of the way.”
Tags: Hempfield, Penn-Trafford
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