Mars girls volleyball confident, ready to ‘see what we can do’ vs Pope John Paul II for PIAA title
Aside from what they are physically capable of on the court, players on Mars’ girls volleyball team carry with them valuable intangibles — not the least of which is confidence.
Each major step the Planets (21-4) have taken this year has added to the feeling of assurance within the team ... Winning a section title with an undefeated section record, claiming a WPIAL title and dispatching their first three opponents in the state playoffs.
Now the Planets stand one win away from claiming the first state championship in program history, and that confidence will come in handy when they take the court against two-time defending state champion Pope John Paul II for the PIAA Class 3A title, 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.
The Golden Panthers (23-0), champions of District 1, are not only unbeaten this year, they have compiled a 73-0 record since the beginning of the 2022 season.
Facing a juggernaut has not changed the mindset of Planets coach Tami Caraway or her players.
“We respect every team we play, just take things one game at a time,” she said. “Now, for the last time this season, let’s go out and see what we can do.”
To win a third straight state championship, the Panthers will have to contend with a powerful and varied Mars attack. Four players — Cecilia Christy, Rylee Wooldridge, Lily Javor and Ella Nicotra — have each broken the previous program record for kills in a season this year. Christy leads the team with 278.
Distributing the ball is freshman setter Gabi Weidemann, who has another single-season record for the Planets with 849 assists, as does libero Alaina Graham with 308 digs.
Beneath the impressive stats is an acute desire to succeed which permeates throughout the team.
“These girls are so competitive,” Caraway said. “Back in August, we held a scrimmage and one of our players came up to me and asked why we weren’t keeping score. That’s how badly they want to win. I look forward to practice every day.”
The battle at the net should be intense.
“We have a very good defense,” Panthers coach Ryan Sell said. “It’s tough for opponents to consistently score on us. All of our players play club volleyball, they started playing at an early age. We have three main feeder schools, and the girls are well-coached at that level.”
Sell’s top players include seniors Josie Arezina (rightside hitter) and Maeve Gallagher (outside) and junior Norah Busch (middle). Gallagher and Busch, a North Carolina State commit, are both averaging between four and five kills per set.
In 2022, the Panthers defeated North Catholic for the state crown, and they topped Hampton last year.
