{"id":23535,"date":"2014-10-14T12:02:01","date_gmt":"2014-10-14T16:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=23535"},"modified":"2014-10-14T11:10:41","modified_gmt":"2014-10-14T15:10:41","slug":"unionville-downingtown-east-top-ches-mont-in-volleyball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=23535","title":{"rendered":"Unionville, Downingtown East top Ches Mont in volleyball"},"content":{"rendered":"

With league race over, local teams look to district tourneys<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"volleyball\"<\/a>Prior to the start of the 2014 Ches-Mont League season, Unionville was the hands-down favorite to take first place in the American Division. And, it appeared as if there would be four main title contenders in the National Division — Downingtown East, Downingtown West, Bishop Shanahan and West Chester Henderson.<\/p>\n

In the Ches-Mont League American Division, Unionville has clinched the title with an 11-2 record while Great Valley is in second place at 6-4. The Indians close out their season with a match against Avon Grove from the National Division.<\/p>\n

All of these schools have virtually locked up berths for the District One Class AAA playoffs which begin on October 21. How they are seeded has yet to be determined.<\/p>\n

The seeding for the District One tournament will be determined by the district\u2019s power rating system.\u00a0Here is a step by step description of the ranking process.<\/p>\n

Only best of 5 matches are to be included; abbreviated matches, such as those played in tournaments, are to be excluded. Only best of five matches with PIAA schools are to be included — matches with non-PIAA schools are to be excluded. District one teams that play matches with PIAA teams that are outside of District One, are responsible for obtaining end of season win\/loss records of those opponents to have them included in the ranking calculation.\u00a0 The ranking calculation weighs two factors; a team\u2019s season win\/loss record, and the pre-district playoff win\/loss records of that team\u2019s PIAA opponents (as defined in steps 1-3).<\/p>\n

An index will be calculated\u00a0using\u00a055 per cent of a team\u2019s own win\/loss record (per cent matches won\/total matches played), added to 45 per cent of the combined win\/loss records of its opponents.\u00a0 This formula is designed to reward teams that play competitive schedules. Each District One team will be ranked for district playoffs using the 55\/45 index, with the team with the highest total index ranked first, the team with the second highest index ranked second, and so on until all available seeds are determined.<\/p>\n

Currently, five Ches-Mont teams are in the top 10. The top teams are Pennridge (0.7638), Upper Merion (0.7248), Garnet Valley (0.7203), Bishop Shanahan (0.7031), Downingtown East (0.7011), Strath Haven (0.6894), West Chester Henderson (0.6871), Downingtown West (0.6563) Central Bucks South (0.6364), and Unionville (0.6321).<\/p>\n

Great Valley is ranked 20th at 0.6065. Avon Grove is 23rd<\/sup>\u00a0at 0.5359. Spring-Ford is 28th<\/sup>\u00a0at 0.4740. West Chester Rustin is 31st at 0.4806 and Sun Valley is listed 37th at 0.4271. The district tournament will include 28 Class AAA teams. In Class AA, four teams will make the playoff and Octorara is ranked seventh at 0.3024.<\/p>\n

Unionville\u2019s solid squad is paced by a trio of seniors — 6-1 middle hitter Sydney Salle, who leads the team in kills; setter Molly McCann, who leads the team in assists; and outside hitter Becca Hillhouse, who leads the team in aces.<\/p>\n

Hillhouse started the season at libero and played the position until regular libero Sarah Muscato came back from a shoulder injury at the end of September. Other key players for the 2014 UHS squad are sophomore outside hitter Ali Lowe and junior middle blocker Samantha Pancoast.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have some height this year,\u201d said Unionville coach Rob Conti-D\u2019Antonio. \u201cWe\u2019re pretty tall but not as tall as Avon Grove, Strath Haven and Marple Newtown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of good senior starters and our sub seniors are good off the bench. This group has been together for a couple years. They\u2019ve been through some tough times in the past and they\u2019re having a great season this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other teams in the American Division are all sub-.500 in league play — Rustin (4-6), Oxford (2-8), Kennett (2-9), Sun Valley (1-8) and Octorara (0-9).<\/p>\n

Kennett is fielding a really young team this season with just two senior starters — outside hitter\/defensive specialists Alex Gleason and Dorothy Lovell.<\/p>\n

The Blue Demons\u2019 other starters are all juniors — setter Ariana Sevchuk, right side Hannah Sirusis, middle Delaney Chafin, libero Payton Arcieri and middle Aubrey Robinson.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefense has been our strength,\u201d said Kennett coach Rob Smith. \u201cAlex Gleason is a really strong defensive player.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team is coming along. They\u2019ve really improved since last year. And, we have five girls who are also playing club volleyball.<\/p>\n

A similar situation of a youth-dominated squad exists for his wife Stephanie Smith, who is the head coach at Coatesville. One of the lower tier teams in the National Division.<\/p>\n

Only two of the team\u2019s eight regular players are seniors — outside hitter Jackie Walsh and libero Jordan Ficca. The nucleus of the team is formed by a trio of sophomores and a trio of juniors.<\/p>\n

The juniors are outside hitter Meredith Dailey, middle Anna Pepe and right side Piper Sweeney while the 10th<\/sup>-graders are setter Ashlynne Array, middle Ani Jason and defensive specialist Teresa Johnson<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re building,\u201d said Smith, who played scholastic ball at Unionville (when she was still Stephanie Dunne). \u201cIt is a very young team with only two seniors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first year so we\u2019re working on getting established. We have a lot of tenth graders on varsity. And, we have eight freshmen on the team including three who play club.\u201d<\/p>\n

Downingtown East, which had a number of top players back from last year\u2019s undefeated (14-0) National Division championship team, looked poised to successfully defend its tile — but not without strong challenges from West Chester Henderson, Bishop Shanahan and Downingtown East.<\/p>\n

As the regular-season competition reached its final stage, that\u2019s the way it has played out.<\/p>\n

Early in the season, there were expectations that the division championship would not be decided until the penultimate round of division competition on October 15 — the day that Downingtown East hosts Downingtown West.<\/p>\n

It almost happened that way.<\/p>\n

With one round remaining, both Downingtown West and Bishop Shanahan are 11-2 while Henderson is 10-3. But, the best any of the three teams not named Downingtown East can hope for is a tie for second place in the final standings.<\/p>\n

With its win in the next-to-the-last round over Octorara, East improved to 13-0 and clinched the division crown. Now, the Cougars face one final obstacle to finishing undefeated in the league for the second year in a row — the rivalry match against West on October 15.<\/p>\n

All four of the pre-season contenders will qualify for the District One Class AAA tournament. All four are hoping to have all their players healthy and ready-to-go when districts begin on October 21.<\/p>\n

This season, both East and Shanahan have had trouble keeping players healthy and game-ready.<\/p>\n

At Downingtown East, two seniors provide the foundation upon which the team has been built — setter Rachael Graham and outside hitter Lauren Mueller.<\/p>\n

Last year as a junior, Graham\u00a0was named to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association All State Team as well as the PVCA\u2019s All District 1 Class AAA First Team and the Ches-Mont League All-League National Division First Team.<\/p>\n

Mueller is a powerful outside hitter who was selected for the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association All State Team as well as the PVCA\u2019s All District 1 Class AAA First Team and the Ches-Mont League All-League National Division First Team last season.<\/p>\n

Even though it\u2019s a situation that hasn\u2019t had a major negative effect on the Cougars, only one of their aces has available for full-time service on the court.<\/p>\n

At the start of the season, Mueller\u00a0was shagging balls with her back to the net and a\u00a0girl on the other side of the net rocketed a ball that slammed into the back of her head.<\/p>\n

The concussion had a major effect on Mueller — and not in a good way. It has also affected her volleyball. Additionally, Mueller, who is a top academic student at East, was knocked off course with her work in the classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt definitely has affected my schoolwork — especially the memorization aspect,\u201d said Mueller. \u201cI\u2019ve been having issues with my memory and have had problems with headaches and dizziness. Fortunately, the school has been giving me extra time on my tests.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been frustrating. I\u2019m getting better but it doesn\u2019t feel like it. I have light issues and have to wear sunglasses — even when I\u2019m inside. When I\u2019m wearing the sunglasses indoors, some people think it\u2019s a fashion state but it isn\u2019t. It\u2019s a necessity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith spells of blurred vision and dizziness, the concussion has affected my playing. People say that it doesn\u2019t look like it\u2019s affected me but I know it has. At times, I get dizzy on the court and have to take myself out of the game. That is something I hate to do — especially because our team is doing so well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even with one of their best players competing with reduced efficiency, the Cougars are still motoring along at a fast pace.<\/p>\n

\u201cLauren and Rachel are doing a great job of leading the team,\u201d said East coach Peggy Hopton, who last season guided her team to its first-ever\u00a0Ches-Mont League title, a runner-up finish\u00a0 in the District One Class AAA playoffs and a hard-fought loss in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class AAA tournament. \u201cWe\u2019re a tight group because of our team leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shanahan, meanwhile, has been hit hard by injury this season.<\/p>\n

Bishop Shanahan\u2019s veteran coach Greg Ashman, who logged his 200th career win back in September when the Eagles swept Kennett 3-0, is rightfully concerned about his current line-up — about who will and who won\u2019t be available for duty.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaley Kleespies, our senior setter, is out for the year with a broken foot and her sister Chloee Kleespies, a sophomore outside hitter, has been unable to play because of a shoulder injury,\u201d said Ashman. \u201cAltogether, we have four starters with injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, Haley Kleespies\u00a0was named to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association All State Team as well as the PVCA\u2019s All District 1 Class AAA First Team and the Ches-Mont League All-League National Division First Team.<\/p>\n

\u201cRita Shultz, a senior outside hitter, has been missing games because of a concussion,\u201d said Ashman. \u201cLibero\/defensive specialist Gina Lewis, who started last year, had shoulder surgery in July and is still unable to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Eagles\u2019 latest lineup includes freshman setter\/outside hitter Renee Shultz (Rita\u2019s sister), senior middle Katie Quinlan, junior libero Kathryn Oakes, senior middle\/opposite Katy Lemheney, junior setter Emily Elder and sophomore middle blocker Paige Dudkiewicz.<\/p>\n

At the present time, Shanahan is a good team — but a team in survival mode.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re just trying to hold it together,\u201d said Ashman. \u201cWith the lack of experience comes lack of continuity. Only one or two of our current starters have any varsity experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen things are clicking, we can play with the best of them. At the Parkland Invitational, we split with Parkland, which is ranked Number One in the state, and then lost to them in the final. Earlier this season at the Garden Spot tournament, we split with Exeter, which is ranked Number One in the state at that time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, when we get everyone healthy, we can play like a Shanahan team is supposed to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Downingtown West has only lost twice in league competition — to American Division leaders Unionville and to National Division foe West Chester Henderson.<\/p>\n

The Whippets\u2019 key players are senior outside hitters Sarah Schneider and Annie Hayes, junior setter Emily Ahern, senior middle Chloe McCarty, sophomore libero Gina Schetroma, sophomore middle Sophie Gelling and freshman right side Kenzie Pincura.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a pretty good attacking team and a better-than-average defensive team,\u201d said West coach Dave Parrish, whose team has split its four non-league matches. \u201cWe\u2019re also a pretty good serving team. And, our ball control is good.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got off to a 10-1 start and that\u2019s our best ever. We played really well against Bishop Shanahan but we haven\u2019t played up to that level since then. We got out of system when we played Unionville. They\u2019re tall and they have good outside hitters.\u201d<\/p>\n

West Chester Henderson has done a good job of staying with its Downingtown rivals. The Warriors\u2019 top player is senior outside hitter Hailey Adler, who last year was named to the PVCA\u2019s All District 1 Class AAA First Team and the Ches-Mont League All-League National Division First Team.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur team\u2019s strengths are solid serving and defense to compliment a strong offense,\u201d said Henderson coach Greta Neff. \u201cOur team has been learning to play together at a fast pace. We\u2019re hoping to continue our success to propel us into the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With league race over, local teams look to district tourneys By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times Prior to the start of the 2014 Ches-Mont League season, Unionville was the hands-down favorite to take first place in the American Division. And, it appeared as if there would be four main title contenders in the National Division […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,4],"tags":[34,752,24,308],"class_list":["post-23535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-sports","tag-ches-mont","tag-downingtown-east","tag-unionville","tag-volleyball"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23535"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23537,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23535\/revisions\/23537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}