Volleyball Team News
Congratulations to the BSHS Volleyball Team on an amazing 2021-22 season!
We are so proud of all your hard work and accomplishments!
We are so proud of all your hard work and accomplishments!
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"Bishop Shanahan’s Coco Shultz, Maddie Rudolph are Daily Local News 2021 Girls Volleyball Co-Players of the Year" by Bruce Adams, PA PREP Live, December 29, 2021
The Bishop Shanahan girls volleyball team had a memorable 2021 campaign, re-capturing the Ches-Mont League and PIAA District 1 4A titles and advancing to the PIAA 4A state semifinal. The Eagles’ road to the 2021 state semifinal was paved with key victories against higher-seeded teams, as well as thrilling comeback victories. |
Leading the Eagles’ long flight in the post-season were their co-Most Valuable Players, senior captains Coco Shultz and Maddie Rudolph, who both received All-District 1 and all-state honors, and have been named the 2021 Daily Local News Girls’ Volleyball Co-Players of the Year.
This is the third time that Bishop Shanahan has produced Daily Local News Girls’ Volleyball Co-Players of the Year.
Shultz and Rudolph travelled different routes to the top.
Shultz, who started playing club volleyball at age 9, grew up surrounded by three older sisters who also made their mark in volleyball at Bishop Shanahan – two of them are former Daily Local News Girls Volleyball Players of the Year.
Rudolph did not play club volleyball until 8th grade, but has improved her game rapidly the last couple of years, to the point where Shanahan head coach Greg Ashman calls her “unstoppable against the top talent in the area and the state.”
Shultz is a cerebral 6-rotation player who led the Eagles in digs this fall, and was called “the glue that held this team together” by Ashman, while Rudolph led the Eagles in kills and hitting percentage in 2021.
Both Shultz and Rudolph led the way for Shanahan’s remarkable, never-say-die 2021 season.
“No one picked us to win the Ches-Mont League this year, and no one picked us to win the district title,” noted Ashman.
Rudolph said, “Many people didn’t think that it was possible that we would take back the Ches-Mont and District 1 title, but we worked very hard every day, kept our heads up, and worked together to achieve our goals. We didn’t let other people’s expectations of us define the way our season was going to go.”
Shanahan roared through the Ches-Mont League schedule this fall undefeated, and beat Unionville – the reigning league and District 1 champ – by a 3-2 margin in the regular season.
“That win against our rival Unionville is my favorite memory of the season,” said Shultz. “It paved the way for our Ches-Mont
championship. I loved the energy in our gym that night, and this match was the turning point of our season.”
Shanahan was a No. 3 seed entering the PIAA District 1 4A tournament, but knocked off No. 2 seed Unionville, 3-1, in the district semifinals, then topped top seed Council Rock North, 3-1, in the district championship game Nov. 4.
In the PIAA 4A state quarterfinals Nov. 13, Shanahan fell behind 2-0 to Garnet Valley and trailed 15-8 in the third set. Twice the Eagles were one point away from elimination, trailing 24-22 in the third set and 24-23 in the fourth set, but both times Shanahan rallied to win (29-27 and 26-24), then captured the deciding set to advance to the state semifinal.
“My favorite memory of the season was beating Garnet Valley in the state quarterfinal,” said Rudolph. “At so many points of that game, we were down, with the end of the season on the line. Our team kept our composure, trusted each other, and worked cohesively to persevere through the rest of the match. That was an extremely stressful game, but not a single player showed any type of worry. I was super proud of all of my teammates after that match, and it showed how much grit our team has.”
Speaking of grit, Shultz comes from a family who knows how to bounce back from adversity. Her father, Ed, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1986 but went on to become only the fifth five-year football letterman at Army, the first since 1929. His comeback was profiled in the Oct. 3, 1988 issue of Sports Illustrated.
My dad sparked my interest in volleyball,” said Shultz. “He coached me when I was in middle school and is a huge reason why I continue to play the game after almost 10 years. He is a huge mentor of mine, as well as each of my sisters (Rita, Renee, Cara).”
Both Renee and Cara Shultz have received Daily Local News Girls Volleyball Player of the Year awards in prior years.
“I try to keep in touch with all three of them pretty consistently even though we all have very busy schedules,” said Shultz. “It’s comforting talking to them since they have been in the same exact position as me, and they are always a shoulder to lean on despite going through their own collegiate seasons.
“Renee always gives me fresh perspective as someone who’s almost through college and in a completely different stage of life, and Cara is a great person to talk volleyball with since I played with her during my freshman and sophomore years. Rita, my oldest sister, provides insight as an ex-Shanahan volleyball player and an all-around great person.”
Ashman noted, “What makes Coco different form her sisters is that she is a cerebral player, always thinking and trying to outdo her opponents. Coco has the power, all the shots and when a team thinks they have stopped her she pulls out the tip or roll shot to get the point. What also makes her an outstanding player is her ability to play in the backrow and from the service line. What also makes Coco such a standout is that she has the leadership qualities that her teammates all look up to on and off the court.”
Shultz said, “Being a leader on this team has taught me that remaining calm and relying on my teammates when I am down is crucial to our success. My coaches throughout the years have helped me develop in this aspect, which has only deepened my love for the sport.”
Like Shultz, Rudolph credits her family as a support system, and mentions her 17s club coach, Roberta McGuiney, as her biggest volleyball mentor.
“Roberta has taught me to compete and work hard no matter who is watching and what type of game I am playing in, and she also taught me that the most important person to believe in me is myself,” said Rudolph. “My freshman year I never would have believed that I would be where I am now because I lacked self-confidence.”
Ashman has noted Rudolph’s rapid improvement the past couple of years.
Rudolph said, “I think that the biggest keys to my improvement have been goal setting, hard work, determination, and encouragement from my parents, coaches, and teammates. I am very thankful for every school and club coach that I have had for seeing potential in me and shaping me into the player I have become.”
Ashman said, “Maddie displays pure athleticism and grace when she plays. She has the ability to take over a match from both the front row and the backrow, when she is ‘in the zone’ she is very difficult to stop. She is a joy to coach and watch play as she is always trying to get better and be the best. Maddie’s energy is contagious both in practices and in matches – she lifts the level of her teammates and challenges them to be the best.”
Rudolph said, “I think it’s really special that we received this award together because it’s been ‘Coco and Maddie’ since freshman year. She’s a great teammate and an even better friend!
“I think the most valuable things that Coco brought to the volleyball team are consistentcy and leadership. Coco is a solid all-around player who always has my back when I am down. We could always count on her if we needed a point or an energy boost. She is an awesome leader who is loved and respected by her teammates. It’s been such a fun experience play volleyball with Coco over the last four years.”
Shultz said, “I think the most valuable thing I think Maddie brought to the team this fall was her leadership. Everyone on the Shanahan volleyball team looks up to Maddie as their role model, and she did an awesome job of leading the team to success. Personally, I relied on her a lot as my teammate and co-captain, and her presence on the court was crucial. I am glad to have gone through these past four years with Maddie, in Shanahan, club volleyball, and everything in between.”
Next fall, Shultz will play volleyball for Franklin & Marshall College, and is thinking of majoring in Political Science and Economics. Rudolph will play volleyball for Colgate University.
This is the third time that Bishop Shanahan has produced Daily Local News Girls’ Volleyball Co-Players of the Year.
Shultz and Rudolph travelled different routes to the top.
Shultz, who started playing club volleyball at age 9, grew up surrounded by three older sisters who also made their mark in volleyball at Bishop Shanahan – two of them are former Daily Local News Girls Volleyball Players of the Year.
Rudolph did not play club volleyball until 8th grade, but has improved her game rapidly the last couple of years, to the point where Shanahan head coach Greg Ashman calls her “unstoppable against the top talent in the area and the state.”
Shultz is a cerebral 6-rotation player who led the Eagles in digs this fall, and was called “the glue that held this team together” by Ashman, while Rudolph led the Eagles in kills and hitting percentage in 2021.
Both Shultz and Rudolph led the way for Shanahan’s remarkable, never-say-die 2021 season.
“No one picked us to win the Ches-Mont League this year, and no one picked us to win the district title,” noted Ashman.
Rudolph said, “Many people didn’t think that it was possible that we would take back the Ches-Mont and District 1 title, but we worked very hard every day, kept our heads up, and worked together to achieve our goals. We didn’t let other people’s expectations of us define the way our season was going to go.”
Shanahan roared through the Ches-Mont League schedule this fall undefeated, and beat Unionville – the reigning league and District 1 champ – by a 3-2 margin in the regular season.
“That win against our rival Unionville is my favorite memory of the season,” said Shultz. “It paved the way for our Ches-Mont
championship. I loved the energy in our gym that night, and this match was the turning point of our season.”
Shanahan was a No. 3 seed entering the PIAA District 1 4A tournament, but knocked off No. 2 seed Unionville, 3-1, in the district semifinals, then topped top seed Council Rock North, 3-1, in the district championship game Nov. 4.
In the PIAA 4A state quarterfinals Nov. 13, Shanahan fell behind 2-0 to Garnet Valley and trailed 15-8 in the third set. Twice the Eagles were one point away from elimination, trailing 24-22 in the third set and 24-23 in the fourth set, but both times Shanahan rallied to win (29-27 and 26-24), then captured the deciding set to advance to the state semifinal.
“My favorite memory of the season was beating Garnet Valley in the state quarterfinal,” said Rudolph. “At so many points of that game, we were down, with the end of the season on the line. Our team kept our composure, trusted each other, and worked cohesively to persevere through the rest of the match. That was an extremely stressful game, but not a single player showed any type of worry. I was super proud of all of my teammates after that match, and it showed how much grit our team has.”
Speaking of grit, Shultz comes from a family who knows how to bounce back from adversity. Her father, Ed, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1986 but went on to become only the fifth five-year football letterman at Army, the first since 1929. His comeback was profiled in the Oct. 3, 1988 issue of Sports Illustrated.
My dad sparked my interest in volleyball,” said Shultz. “He coached me when I was in middle school and is a huge reason why I continue to play the game after almost 10 years. He is a huge mentor of mine, as well as each of my sisters (Rita, Renee, Cara).”
Both Renee and Cara Shultz have received Daily Local News Girls Volleyball Player of the Year awards in prior years.
“I try to keep in touch with all three of them pretty consistently even though we all have very busy schedules,” said Shultz. “It’s comforting talking to them since they have been in the same exact position as me, and they are always a shoulder to lean on despite going through their own collegiate seasons.
“Renee always gives me fresh perspective as someone who’s almost through college and in a completely different stage of life, and Cara is a great person to talk volleyball with since I played with her during my freshman and sophomore years. Rita, my oldest sister, provides insight as an ex-Shanahan volleyball player and an all-around great person.”
Ashman noted, “What makes Coco different form her sisters is that she is a cerebral player, always thinking and trying to outdo her opponents. Coco has the power, all the shots and when a team thinks they have stopped her she pulls out the tip or roll shot to get the point. What also makes her an outstanding player is her ability to play in the backrow and from the service line. What also makes Coco such a standout is that she has the leadership qualities that her teammates all look up to on and off the court.”
Shultz said, “Being a leader on this team has taught me that remaining calm and relying on my teammates when I am down is crucial to our success. My coaches throughout the years have helped me develop in this aspect, which has only deepened my love for the sport.”
Like Shultz, Rudolph credits her family as a support system, and mentions her 17s club coach, Roberta McGuiney, as her biggest volleyball mentor.
“Roberta has taught me to compete and work hard no matter who is watching and what type of game I am playing in, and she also taught me that the most important person to believe in me is myself,” said Rudolph. “My freshman year I never would have believed that I would be where I am now because I lacked self-confidence.”
Ashman has noted Rudolph’s rapid improvement the past couple of years.
Rudolph said, “I think that the biggest keys to my improvement have been goal setting, hard work, determination, and encouragement from my parents, coaches, and teammates. I am very thankful for every school and club coach that I have had for seeing potential in me and shaping me into the player I have become.”
Ashman said, “Maddie displays pure athleticism and grace when she plays. She has the ability to take over a match from both the front row and the backrow, when she is ‘in the zone’ she is very difficult to stop. She is a joy to coach and watch play as she is always trying to get better and be the best. Maddie’s energy is contagious both in practices and in matches – she lifts the level of her teammates and challenges them to be the best.”
Rudolph said, “I think it’s really special that we received this award together because it’s been ‘Coco and Maddie’ since freshman year. She’s a great teammate and an even better friend!
“I think the most valuable things that Coco brought to the volleyball team are consistentcy and leadership. Coco is a solid all-around player who always has my back when I am down. We could always count on her if we needed a point or an energy boost. She is an awesome leader who is loved and respected by her teammates. It’s been such a fun experience play volleyball with Coco over the last four years.”
Shultz said, “I think the most valuable thing I think Maddie brought to the team this fall was her leadership. Everyone on the Shanahan volleyball team looks up to Maddie as their role model, and she did an awesome job of leading the team to success. Personally, I relied on her a lot as my teammate and co-captain, and her presence on the court was crucial. I am glad to have gone through these past four years with Maddie, in Shanahan, club volleyball, and everything in between.”
Next fall, Shultz will play volleyball for Franklin & Marshall College, and is thinking of majoring in Political Science and Economics. Rudolph will play volleyball for Colgate University.
"Bishop Shanahan falls to undefeated Parkland in state semifinals to end memorable season" by Bruce Adams, PA PREP Live, November 16, 2021
Reading >> Following Bishop Shanahan’s 3-1 loss to undefeated Parkland in the PIAA 4A girls volleyball state semifinals Tuesday night at Exeter Township High School, Eagles head coach Greg Ashman talked about how much his team accomplished this fall.
“Our players should be proud of what they did this season,” said Ashman. “No one picked us to win the Ches-Mont League this year, no one picked us to win the district title. So they accomplished two huge things this season, and we made it to state semifinals, one of the best four teams in the state. They’re very good volleyball players, they’re just good people.”
In the opening set, Parkland (25-0), who earlier won the District 11 4A championship for the eighth consecutive year, never trailed, holding a small lead through most of the contest. The Eagles (21-4) cut Parkland’s lead to 20-18 after a couple of well-placed hits by senior outside hitter Coco Shultz, but the Trojans closed the contest on a 5-0 run to win 25-18.
The second set went back-and-forth, but Shanahan surged to an 18-14 lead on a 4-0 run that featured some fine serving from senior outside hitter/middle blocker Maddie Rudolph.
“They were just my normal serves, I guess I tried to put a little more heat on them because it was do-or-die at that point,” said a smiling Rudolph. “So to leave it all out on the court was [our] thing.”
The Eagles held on, and maintained a narrow 23-22 lead, then a Rudolph kill and some fine play at the net wrapped it up for Shanahan, 25-22.
“We were doing so many things right [in the second set],” said Ashman. “We were covering their tips, we were playing smart at the net. When we needed a big swing, we took a big swing, when we needed a tip we took a tip, we were just in the zone. Sometimes you need to be in the zone.”
On the first play of the third set, a potential game-changing moment occurred when Parkland’s 6-foot standout junior middle hitter Elena Pursell fell to the floor and had to be helped off the court. She remained on the sidelines for the first half of the set, but returned to action with Parkland trailing 11-10. Shanahan extended its lead to 15-12, but Parkland came back to tie the score at 16-16. The set was tied six more times (17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22), with Shultz and senior outside hitter Laura Brozey providing some fine play up front.
Parkland went ahead 22-21 after winning a long volley, but on the very next play – another extended volley – Shanahan prevailed to tie the score at 22-22.
“I think I’ll always remember that volley – it was at least 30 seconds long, and everybody was all over the court,” said a smiling Shultz. “That play will probably stick in my mind for a long time.”
Parkland won the next two points, thanks to some fine play at the net by 5-10 senior outside hitter Brynn Dreisbach, to go ahead 24-22. Rudolph’s kill cut the lead to 24-23, but a well-placed Trojan tip at the net gave Parkland a 25-23 win and a 2-1 advantage.
“I think if we had taken that third set, things would have been a lot different [after that] for sure,” said Ashman. “If we had gone ahead 2-1, it would be a whole different ballgame, we’d still be playing, probably.”
Rudolph said, “The first three sets, I think we played super loose, super out of our heads.”
Parkland jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set, but Shanahan battled back to tie the score at 9-9. The Trojans then went on a 12-1 run, highlighted by some well-placed tips by 5-8 sophomore setter Maggie Smith, to take a 21-10 lead. A few minutes later, Parkland had a 25-13 win, and Shanahan’s season was over.
It also was the end of the Shanahan volleyball career for eight Eagle seniors – Shultz, Rudolph, Brozey, setter Allison Monaco, setter Amelia Devlin, outside hitter/middle blocker Julia Pagnotto, setter Meghan Collins and defensive specialist Delaney Dwyer.
“I think I’ll always remember the chemistry I had with this team, and especially the other seniors,” said Shultz, who is headed to Franklin & Marshall next fall. “We love and care for each other so much, and it shows on the court. I’m a little sad that I won’t be able to play with all of them again.”
Rudolph said, “We [the eight seniors] are super close, always talking, always hanging out – it’s something really special.”
Ashman said, “Our seniors are [fun-loving], and they’re hard workers. I could say that over and over again. When it’s time to play volleyball, they do that, and when it’s time to relax and have fun, they know how to do that too.”
Rudolph said, “It’s been an absolute honor being in three state tournaments, two state championship finals, and last year’s district run, but I think what I’ll remember most is the bond I have with this team. They are most definitely my sisters – all [30-plus] of us, they mean the world to me, it’s a team I’ll never forget. I am beyond thankful for this experience with our team – I could not have asked for a better team, a better high school volleyball experience.”
Shultz said, “I think what I’ll remember most about this team is its work ethic and its growth. We grew so much, physically and in team chemistry. At the beginning of the season, we never thought we’d be making it to state semifinals, let alone the District 1 finals. I’m really proud of our team – we should keep our heads high, we had one heck of a season, we exceeded all my expectations. We knew Parkland would be strong [tonight], they always are, and we just wanted to play loose and have fun, and I’m really proud of this team.”
Reading >> Following Bishop Shanahan’s 3-1 loss to undefeated Parkland in the PIAA 4A girls volleyball state semifinals Tuesday night at Exeter Township High School, Eagles head coach Greg Ashman talked about how much his team accomplished this fall.
“Our players should be proud of what they did this season,” said Ashman. “No one picked us to win the Ches-Mont League this year, no one picked us to win the district title. So they accomplished two huge things this season, and we made it to state semifinals, one of the best four teams in the state. They’re very good volleyball players, they’re just good people.”
In the opening set, Parkland (25-0), who earlier won the District 11 4A championship for the eighth consecutive year, never trailed, holding a small lead through most of the contest. The Eagles (21-4) cut Parkland’s lead to 20-18 after a couple of well-placed hits by senior outside hitter Coco Shultz, but the Trojans closed the contest on a 5-0 run to win 25-18.
The second set went back-and-forth, but Shanahan surged to an 18-14 lead on a 4-0 run that featured some fine serving from senior outside hitter/middle blocker Maddie Rudolph.
“They were just my normal serves, I guess I tried to put a little more heat on them because it was do-or-die at that point,” said a smiling Rudolph. “So to leave it all out on the court was [our] thing.”
The Eagles held on, and maintained a narrow 23-22 lead, then a Rudolph kill and some fine play at the net wrapped it up for Shanahan, 25-22.
“We were doing so many things right [in the second set],” said Ashman. “We were covering their tips, we were playing smart at the net. When we needed a big swing, we took a big swing, when we needed a tip we took a tip, we were just in the zone. Sometimes you need to be in the zone.”
On the first play of the third set, a potential game-changing moment occurred when Parkland’s 6-foot standout junior middle hitter Elena Pursell fell to the floor and had to be helped off the court. She remained on the sidelines for the first half of the set, but returned to action with Parkland trailing 11-10. Shanahan extended its lead to 15-12, but Parkland came back to tie the score at 16-16. The set was tied six more times (17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22), with Shultz and senior outside hitter Laura Brozey providing some fine play up front.
Parkland went ahead 22-21 after winning a long volley, but on the very next play – another extended volley – Shanahan prevailed to tie the score at 22-22.
“I think I’ll always remember that volley – it was at least 30 seconds long, and everybody was all over the court,” said a smiling Shultz. “That play will probably stick in my mind for a long time.”
Parkland won the next two points, thanks to some fine play at the net by 5-10 senior outside hitter Brynn Dreisbach, to go ahead 24-22. Rudolph’s kill cut the lead to 24-23, but a well-placed Trojan tip at the net gave Parkland a 25-23 win and a 2-1 advantage.
“I think if we had taken that third set, things would have been a lot different [after that] for sure,” said Ashman. “If we had gone ahead 2-1, it would be a whole different ballgame, we’d still be playing, probably.”
Rudolph said, “The first three sets, I think we played super loose, super out of our heads.”
Parkland jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set, but Shanahan battled back to tie the score at 9-9. The Trojans then went on a 12-1 run, highlighted by some well-placed tips by 5-8 sophomore setter Maggie Smith, to take a 21-10 lead. A few minutes later, Parkland had a 25-13 win, and Shanahan’s season was over.
It also was the end of the Shanahan volleyball career for eight Eagle seniors – Shultz, Rudolph, Brozey, setter Allison Monaco, setter Amelia Devlin, outside hitter/middle blocker Julia Pagnotto, setter Meghan Collins and defensive specialist Delaney Dwyer.
“I think I’ll always remember the chemistry I had with this team, and especially the other seniors,” said Shultz, who is headed to Franklin & Marshall next fall. “We love and care for each other so much, and it shows on the court. I’m a little sad that I won’t be able to play with all of them again.”
Rudolph said, “We [the eight seniors] are super close, always talking, always hanging out – it’s something really special.”
Ashman said, “Our seniors are [fun-loving], and they’re hard workers. I could say that over and over again. When it’s time to play volleyball, they do that, and when it’s time to relax and have fun, they know how to do that too.”
Rudolph said, “It’s been an absolute honor being in three state tournaments, two state championship finals, and last year’s district run, but I think what I’ll remember most is the bond I have with this team. They are most definitely my sisters – all [30-plus] of us, they mean the world to me, it’s a team I’ll never forget. I am beyond thankful for this experience with our team – I could not have asked for a better team, a better high school volleyball experience.”
Shultz said, “I think what I’ll remember most about this team is its work ethic and its growth. We grew so much, physically and in team chemistry. At the beginning of the season, we never thought we’d be making it to state semifinals, let alone the District 1 finals. I’m really proud of our team – we should keep our heads high, we had one heck of a season, we exceeded all my expectations. We knew Parkland would be strong [tonight], they always are, and we just wanted to play loose and have fun, and I’m really proud of this team.”
Photo by Bruce Adams, PA PREP Live
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"Shanahan rallies to defeat pesky Garnet Valley in PIAA 4A state quarterfinal" by Bruce Adams, PA PREP Live, November 13, 2021
West Grove >> District 1 4A girls’ volleyball champion Bishop Shanahan, pushed several times to the brink of elimination Saturday by a never-say-die Garnet Valley squad, earned a hard-fought 3-2 win in the PIAA 4A state quarterfinals at Avon Grove High School. |
The Central League champion Jaguars won the opening set against the Eagles, 26-24, overcoming a 24-21 deficit, and captured the second set 25-20 to go up 2-0.
With its backs to the wall, Shanahan trailed 15-8 in the third set. The Eagles briefly rallied, but twice were on the brink of elimination, trailing Garnet Valley 24-22 in the third set and 24-23 in the fourth set. Both times, Shanahan rallied for victories (29-27 and 26-24), then captured the deciding fifth set, 15-10.
Shanahan head coach Greg Ashman said, “Thank God for our senior leadership out there, they held it together. They could have packed it in at any point in time, and said our season’s over, but they don’t want the season to end. The will of a senior is something that is really, really tough to beat, and we had the will of the senior today. Now we live on for another game.”
Shanahan (21-3) will face District 11 champion Parkland in the PIAA 4A state semifinal Tuesday.
One of the leading Shanahan seniors, outside hitter Maddie Rudolph, who contributed 28 kills, three blocks and three aces to the win Saturday, said, “We have eight seniors, we’re eight close girls, and it would have been heartbreaking for our season to end today. After the first two sets, I think we started to realize that this could be our last set of the season. Halfway through the third set [trailing 15-8], we were like, ‘OK guys it’s now or never, we have to get going now. Garnet Valley is a great team, a great blocking team, but we’re just as good and we need to push through and finish this game.’
“When Garnet Valley had 24 points in both the third and fourth sets, I think that was the most stressful game experience I’ve had in my entire life. Until the fifth set I was pretty much on edge, and I think the key was keeping our composure, which I think we did a decent job of, and we pulled through in the end.”
In the back-and-forth first set, neither team had more than a three-point lead, but late in the contest Shanahan built a 24-21 lead, thanks in part to some strong hitting from senior outside hitter Coco Shultz (who finished with 21 kills Saturday).
The Jaguars, with their backs to the wall in the opening set, came up with five straight points, thanks in part to some solid serving by junior setter Madison Wood and strong hitting by senior middle hitter Katelyn Dugery, to come away with a 26-24 win.
“They were stealing a part of our hearts at that time,” said Ashman. “We knew that Garnet Valley is a great team, and hats off to Clarkie [Garnet Valley head coach Mark Clark] for scouting us like he did, he knew our holes and he tried to expose them, and in the first two sets I think he really did that.”
In the second set, the match was tied 14-14 then the Jaguars built a small lead and kept it the rest of the way for a 25-20 win.
“There was a lot of movement today, a lot of long volleys, and that’s the way we try to play,” said Clark. “Our defense played great today – Rachel Sokalsky, Leah Ellis, Maddie Snelgrove and Steph May.”
The Jaguars were providing plenty of offense up front too, led by junior outside hitter Klaira Zakarian (16 kills), outside hitter Mary Pearl Trenabeso (11 kills), senior middle hitter Katelyn Dugery (10 kills), junior right side hitter Kelly St. Germain (10 kills) and junior middle hitter Sarah Weins (five kills, three blocks), who was sidelined during the state tourney opener with an ankle injury.
Wood, who dished out 50 assists Saturday (and served four aces), said, “This was an emotional game, it was do or die, it hurts to lose but I’m proud of how far this team has come. We’re going to have some good returning players next year, and I think there’s going to be a lot of fire [on this team], especially from this game.”
The Jaguars built a 15-8 lead in the third set before Shanahan went on a 4-0 run. Garnet Valley maintained the lead and held a 24-22 advantage, one point away from ending the match. But Shanahan tied the score at 24-24, then the lead went back and forth. With the Eagles leading 28-27, a Rudolph smash sealed the deal for Shanahan in a hard-earned 29-27 win.
“We really had to show our grit today,” said a smiling Shultz, who also came up with 20 digs as well as 21 kills.
“Coco played out of her mind on defense today,” said Ashman. “Both teams today played great defense. Garnet Valley, the way they play defense, they should be winning [today] too – but it’s tough when we match up here.”
Another key Eagle defender Saturday was freshman libero Maddie Metcalf (13 digs, 3 aces).
“It’s unbelievable what Maddie sees, and what she does with the ball is amazing,” said Ashman. She’s flying all over the court, not letting balls drop.”
In the closely-fought fourth set, the game was tied 23-23 when a Shanahan return went out of bounds, giving the Jaguars another shot at clinching the match. But a Shultz kill tied it at 24-24.
“When Garnet Valley had 24 points and the lead in the third and fourth sets, I was definitely nervous,” said a laughing Shultz. “But I had to find my calm place, and we had to battle it through, point by point. We couldn’t look too ahead and we had to stay in the present, and focus on getting the next point, or getting the next pass, and putting up a hittable set, and then terminating the ball.”
A well-placed tip at the net by Shanahan senior Laura Brozey gave the Eagles a 25-24 lead that they did not relinquish in the 26-24 win. Brozey finished the day with eight blocks.
“Laura had a great match today,” said Ashman. “She can block really, really well and take care of any outside hitter we face.”
Devlin said, “When Garnet had 24 points [in the third and fourth sets] we were a little anxious but we knew to keep our calm, just relax and play the game, and it worked out.”
Shanahan senior Julia Pagnotto chipped in with four blocks and Devlin came up with two more.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Eagles roared out to a 9-3 lead, with Rudolph providing some key offense to spark the District 1 4A champions.
“In the huddle between the fourth and fifth sets, we really came together and decided that we weren’t going to let our own mistakes get in our way, that we were going to show our grit,” said Shultz.
“After we got a bit of a lead in the fifth set, I think we felt like, ‘Hey our confidence is back, let’s bring up the energy and finish this game, keep our season going,’” said Rudolph.
“In the fifth set, we found ourselves as a team,” said Brozey. “It was a feeling that came from our gut.”
Garnet Valley fought back, and a Zakarian kill completed a 7-2 run by the Jaguars that cut Shanahan’s lead to 11-10. The Jags got no closer, though, as the Eagles went on a four-point run, culminated by Maddie Metcalf’s ace, to win 15-10.
“It was a fantastic team effort on everybody’s part today,” said Ashman. “Our hitters struggled early to find [open] spots on the floor, then all of a sudden in the third and fourth set they started finding what they needed to do and relaxing a little bit and just taking care of balls. Allie Monaco found her place [after an early struggle] and did fantastic with it. Amelia [Devlin] put our hitters in great positions.”
Clark said, “In the third set and the fifth set, we just ran a little bit out of gas. I’m so proud of these girls, from where we started the season to where we ended, it was a great year for us. Shanahan played great. A couple of things here and there and the games would have turned another way.”
With its backs to the wall, Shanahan trailed 15-8 in the third set. The Eagles briefly rallied, but twice were on the brink of elimination, trailing Garnet Valley 24-22 in the third set and 24-23 in the fourth set. Both times, Shanahan rallied for victories (29-27 and 26-24), then captured the deciding fifth set, 15-10.
Shanahan head coach Greg Ashman said, “Thank God for our senior leadership out there, they held it together. They could have packed it in at any point in time, and said our season’s over, but they don’t want the season to end. The will of a senior is something that is really, really tough to beat, and we had the will of the senior today. Now we live on for another game.”
Shanahan (21-3) will face District 11 champion Parkland in the PIAA 4A state semifinal Tuesday.
One of the leading Shanahan seniors, outside hitter Maddie Rudolph, who contributed 28 kills, three blocks and three aces to the win Saturday, said, “We have eight seniors, we’re eight close girls, and it would have been heartbreaking for our season to end today. After the first two sets, I think we started to realize that this could be our last set of the season. Halfway through the third set [trailing 15-8], we were like, ‘OK guys it’s now or never, we have to get going now. Garnet Valley is a great team, a great blocking team, but we’re just as good and we need to push through and finish this game.’
“When Garnet Valley had 24 points in both the third and fourth sets, I think that was the most stressful game experience I’ve had in my entire life. Until the fifth set I was pretty much on edge, and I think the key was keeping our composure, which I think we did a decent job of, and we pulled through in the end.”
In the back-and-forth first set, neither team had more than a three-point lead, but late in the contest Shanahan built a 24-21 lead, thanks in part to some strong hitting from senior outside hitter Coco Shultz (who finished with 21 kills Saturday).
The Jaguars, with their backs to the wall in the opening set, came up with five straight points, thanks in part to some solid serving by junior setter Madison Wood and strong hitting by senior middle hitter Katelyn Dugery, to come away with a 26-24 win.
“They were stealing a part of our hearts at that time,” said Ashman. “We knew that Garnet Valley is a great team, and hats off to Clarkie [Garnet Valley head coach Mark Clark] for scouting us like he did, he knew our holes and he tried to expose them, and in the first two sets I think he really did that.”
In the second set, the match was tied 14-14 then the Jaguars built a small lead and kept it the rest of the way for a 25-20 win.
“There was a lot of movement today, a lot of long volleys, and that’s the way we try to play,” said Clark. “Our defense played great today – Rachel Sokalsky, Leah Ellis, Maddie Snelgrove and Steph May.”
The Jaguars were providing plenty of offense up front too, led by junior outside hitter Klaira Zakarian (16 kills), outside hitter Mary Pearl Trenabeso (11 kills), senior middle hitter Katelyn Dugery (10 kills), junior right side hitter Kelly St. Germain (10 kills) and junior middle hitter Sarah Weins (five kills, three blocks), who was sidelined during the state tourney opener with an ankle injury.
Wood, who dished out 50 assists Saturday (and served four aces), said, “This was an emotional game, it was do or die, it hurts to lose but I’m proud of how far this team has come. We’re going to have some good returning players next year, and I think there’s going to be a lot of fire [on this team], especially from this game.”
The Jaguars built a 15-8 lead in the third set before Shanahan went on a 4-0 run. Garnet Valley maintained the lead and held a 24-22 advantage, one point away from ending the match. But Shanahan tied the score at 24-24, then the lead went back and forth. With the Eagles leading 28-27, a Rudolph smash sealed the deal for Shanahan in a hard-earned 29-27 win.
“We really had to show our grit today,” said a smiling Shultz, who also came up with 20 digs as well as 21 kills.
“Coco played out of her mind on defense today,” said Ashman. “Both teams today played great defense. Garnet Valley, the way they play defense, they should be winning [today] too – but it’s tough when we match up here.”
Another key Eagle defender Saturday was freshman libero Maddie Metcalf (13 digs, 3 aces).
“It’s unbelievable what Maddie sees, and what she does with the ball is amazing,” said Ashman. She’s flying all over the court, not letting balls drop.”
In the closely-fought fourth set, the game was tied 23-23 when a Shanahan return went out of bounds, giving the Jaguars another shot at clinching the match. But a Shultz kill tied it at 24-24.
“When Garnet Valley had 24 points and the lead in the third and fourth sets, I was definitely nervous,” said a laughing Shultz. “But I had to find my calm place, and we had to battle it through, point by point. We couldn’t look too ahead and we had to stay in the present, and focus on getting the next point, or getting the next pass, and putting up a hittable set, and then terminating the ball.”
A well-placed tip at the net by Shanahan senior Laura Brozey gave the Eagles a 25-24 lead that they did not relinquish in the 26-24 win. Brozey finished the day with eight blocks.
“Laura had a great match today,” said Ashman. “She can block really, really well and take care of any outside hitter we face.”
Devlin said, “When Garnet had 24 points [in the third and fourth sets] we were a little anxious but we knew to keep our calm, just relax and play the game, and it worked out.”
Shanahan senior Julia Pagnotto chipped in with four blocks and Devlin came up with two more.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Eagles roared out to a 9-3 lead, with Rudolph providing some key offense to spark the District 1 4A champions.
“In the huddle between the fourth and fifth sets, we really came together and decided that we weren’t going to let our own mistakes get in our way, that we were going to show our grit,” said Shultz.
“After we got a bit of a lead in the fifth set, I think we felt like, ‘Hey our confidence is back, let’s bring up the energy and finish this game, keep our season going,’” said Rudolph.
“In the fifth set, we found ourselves as a team,” said Brozey. “It was a feeling that came from our gut.”
Garnet Valley fought back, and a Zakarian kill completed a 7-2 run by the Jaguars that cut Shanahan’s lead to 11-10. The Jags got no closer, though, as the Eagles went on a four-point run, culminated by Maddie Metcalf’s ace, to win 15-10.
“It was a fantastic team effort on everybody’s part today,” said Ashman. “Our hitters struggled early to find [open] spots on the floor, then all of a sudden in the third and fourth set they started finding what they needed to do and relaxing a little bit and just taking care of balls. Allie Monaco found her place [after an early struggle] and did fantastic with it. Amelia [Devlin] put our hitters in great positions.”
Clark said, “In the third set and the fifth set, we just ran a little bit out of gas. I’m so proud of these girls, from where we started the season to where we ended, it was a great year for us. Shanahan played great. A couple of things here and there and the games would have turned another way.”
Photo by Jeff Dunn.
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STATE PLAYOFFS (4A): Tuesday 11/9 at home vs Ed Wilson HS at 7 PM. The booster club will be giving away free t-shirts to the first 30 students with a ticket to the game. ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED ONLINE HERE - NO TICKET SALES AT DOOR.
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Photos by Jeff Dunn.
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"Bishop Shanahan prevails against host Unionville in District 1 4A girls volleyball semifina" by Bruce Adams, PA PREP Live, November 2, 2021
East Marlborough >> Every time the Unionville and Bishop Shanahan girls’ volleyball teams square off, it’s a close, hard-fought match, and Tuesday’s PIAA District 1 4A semifinal between these two teams didn’t disappoint. After splitting the first two sets, the two squads battled to a 23-23 tie in the third set before Shanahan nailed the next two points for a 25-23 win. Then, the fourth set was tied 16-16 before the Eagles went on a late roll for a 25-20 win. |
Shanahan’s 3-1 win puts them into the District 1 4A championship final against Council Rock North Thursday.
“We wanted to make sure that our kids were loose and that the pressure was on the other side; that’s how we beat [Unionville] the first time [a 3-2 Shanahan win on Oct. 7],” said Shanahan head coach Greg Ashman. “Our kids never lost their composure the entire time. We got a little shaky at times in that second set, but we never lost our composure. We didn’t have to prove anything to anybody – as long as we stayed calm and had fun, that’s what we tried to do, and we remained that way all the way through.”
Shanahan senior outside middle blocker/outside hitter Maddie Rudolph, who had 10 kills Tuesday, said, “I think the key for us down the stretch tonight was to stay calm and be loose, and we had some serious fun out there.”
Bishop Shanahan won the District 1 4A title every year from 2016 to 2019, and captured the District 1 3A crown in 2015. Unionville won the District 1 4A title last year.
“We want the district title back,” said Ashman. It had been ours for five years.”
Last year, in the District 1 4A semifinal, Unionville beat Shanahan, 3-2. The Eagles dropped the first two sets before coming back strong, then losing the fifth set by a razor-thin 18-16 score.
“Every time we play them, it’s a battle – if you look at the last five matches against them, they’ve all been the same top-notch battles,” said Ashman.
Unionville (19-2) features some strong hitters who displayed their talents Tuesday, including Maddy Lowe (12 kills), Genna Weeber (10 kills), Emily Harper (9 kills) and Jillian Murphy (6 kills).
Shanahan senior outside hitter Coco Shultz, who had 11 kills of her own Tuesday, said, “We knew it was going to be a really tight matchup and Unionville has such a great offense, we knew how great their attack is, with hitters like Genna Weeber and Emily Harper. We knew we had to put up a good block and put up a good defense behind it.”
Rudolph said, “We knew that Unionville has amazing hitters – we play with them in club volleyball – and they’re going to get their kills, but we can bounce back right away. We have to make sure that we’re in our right spots, we have to press on our blocks, make sure the blockers are in the correct position.
“Last time we played Unionville, we really focused on our serving, and that’s what won us the game the last time we played them [a 3-2 win Oct. 7], so we focused on it again today.”
Shanahan picked up 12 points on senior Delaney Dwyer’s serves, and 10 points on freshman libero Maddie Metcalf’s serves. Senior Allison Monaco had three aces.
“We were trying to serve aggressively, because Unionville passes so well and is so solid,” said Shultz.
“We knew we had to win from the end line,” said Ashman. “When we played them the first time we served very, very well, we put pressure on them and kept them out of their offense. If we do that, we can beat a lot of teams that way. Delaney Dwyer’s serves were great. Laura Brozey stepped in and had never served a point all season long, and had a run of 4-5 points. It’s just ice water going through these kids’ veins. You would never know that Maddie Metcalf is a freshman – she’s so calm and reads the game so well and has no fear whatsoever.”
In the first set Tuesday, Shanahan came out of the gate on fire, scoring the first five points, but Unionville gradually caught up and tied the score at 10-10. The match went back-and-forth until a Lowe kill gave Unionville a late 19-18 lead.
Shanahan closed out the first set on a 7-1 run, with Rudolph and Shultz finishing the final two points for a 25-20 win.
The second set was another close battle, with Unionville gaining a small edge down the stretch. With the Longhorns leading 24-23, Weeber’s kill iced Unionville’s 25-23 win.
Shultz said, “After the second set, we got into a huddle together and decided that we wanted to win this so much, and we said that we were going to turn the tide right here. We knew they would get their big momentum swings, but we knew we had to bounce back and in those key moments come together as a team.”
The third set was a close battle all the way to the finish. With the score tied 23-23, Shanahan earned the next two points, the final one on a hard hit by Shultz that Unionville returned out of bounds.
Shanahan (18-3) took a 9-5 lead in the fourth set, but Unionvile battled back to tie the score at 16-16. A late run by the Eagles nailed down the 25-20 win, highlighted by a couple of kills from the left side by Shultz and some long volleys that the Eagles prevailed on.
“I think the key for us was trying to minimize our own mistakes on our side of the court – making serves, making smart swings instead of trying to kill the ball on every swing,” said Shultz.
Unionville, who like Shanahan will compete in the PIAA Class 4A state tournament, will host Downingtown West in the District 1 4A third-place game Thursday.
“Shanahan is a strong serving team, I’ve come to expect that from them,” said Unionville head coach Stephanie Smith. “It’s been something we’ve been working on, and I think we’ve responded fairly well. I think our serve-receive was pretty good today. We just weren’t able to get those big runs.”
“We wanted to make sure that our kids were loose and that the pressure was on the other side; that’s how we beat [Unionville] the first time [a 3-2 Shanahan win on Oct. 7],” said Shanahan head coach Greg Ashman. “Our kids never lost their composure the entire time. We got a little shaky at times in that second set, but we never lost our composure. We didn’t have to prove anything to anybody – as long as we stayed calm and had fun, that’s what we tried to do, and we remained that way all the way through.”
Shanahan senior outside middle blocker/outside hitter Maddie Rudolph, who had 10 kills Tuesday, said, “I think the key for us down the stretch tonight was to stay calm and be loose, and we had some serious fun out there.”
Bishop Shanahan won the District 1 4A title every year from 2016 to 2019, and captured the District 1 3A crown in 2015. Unionville won the District 1 4A title last year.
“We want the district title back,” said Ashman. It had been ours for five years.”
Last year, in the District 1 4A semifinal, Unionville beat Shanahan, 3-2. The Eagles dropped the first two sets before coming back strong, then losing the fifth set by a razor-thin 18-16 score.
“Every time we play them, it’s a battle – if you look at the last five matches against them, they’ve all been the same top-notch battles,” said Ashman.
Unionville (19-2) features some strong hitters who displayed their talents Tuesday, including Maddy Lowe (12 kills), Genna Weeber (10 kills), Emily Harper (9 kills) and Jillian Murphy (6 kills).
Shanahan senior outside hitter Coco Shultz, who had 11 kills of her own Tuesday, said, “We knew it was going to be a really tight matchup and Unionville has such a great offense, we knew how great their attack is, with hitters like Genna Weeber and Emily Harper. We knew we had to put up a good block and put up a good defense behind it.”
Rudolph said, “We knew that Unionville has amazing hitters – we play with them in club volleyball – and they’re going to get their kills, but we can bounce back right away. We have to make sure that we’re in our right spots, we have to press on our blocks, make sure the blockers are in the correct position.
“Last time we played Unionville, we really focused on our serving, and that’s what won us the game the last time we played them [a 3-2 win Oct. 7], so we focused on it again today.”
Shanahan picked up 12 points on senior Delaney Dwyer’s serves, and 10 points on freshman libero Maddie Metcalf’s serves. Senior Allison Monaco had three aces.
“We were trying to serve aggressively, because Unionville passes so well and is so solid,” said Shultz.
“We knew we had to win from the end line,” said Ashman. “When we played them the first time we served very, very well, we put pressure on them and kept them out of their offense. If we do that, we can beat a lot of teams that way. Delaney Dwyer’s serves were great. Laura Brozey stepped in and had never served a point all season long, and had a run of 4-5 points. It’s just ice water going through these kids’ veins. You would never know that Maddie Metcalf is a freshman – she’s so calm and reads the game so well and has no fear whatsoever.”
In the first set Tuesday, Shanahan came out of the gate on fire, scoring the first five points, but Unionville gradually caught up and tied the score at 10-10. The match went back-and-forth until a Lowe kill gave Unionville a late 19-18 lead.
Shanahan closed out the first set on a 7-1 run, with Rudolph and Shultz finishing the final two points for a 25-20 win.
The second set was another close battle, with Unionville gaining a small edge down the stretch. With the Longhorns leading 24-23, Weeber’s kill iced Unionville’s 25-23 win.
Shultz said, “After the second set, we got into a huddle together and decided that we wanted to win this so much, and we said that we were going to turn the tide right here. We knew they would get their big momentum swings, but we knew we had to bounce back and in those key moments come together as a team.”
The third set was a close battle all the way to the finish. With the score tied 23-23, Shanahan earned the next two points, the final one on a hard hit by Shultz that Unionville returned out of bounds.
Shanahan (18-3) took a 9-5 lead in the fourth set, but Unionvile battled back to tie the score at 16-16. A late run by the Eagles nailed down the 25-20 win, highlighted by a couple of kills from the left side by Shultz and some long volleys that the Eagles prevailed on.
“I think the key for us was trying to minimize our own mistakes on our side of the court – making serves, making smart swings instead of trying to kill the ball on every swing,” said Shultz.
Unionville, who like Shanahan will compete in the PIAA Class 4A state tournament, will host Downingtown West in the District 1 4A third-place game Thursday.
“Shanahan is a strong serving team, I’ve come to expect that from them,” said Unionville head coach Stephanie Smith. “It’s been something we’ve been working on, and I think we’ve responded fairly well. I think our serve-receive was pretty good today. We just weren’t able to get those big runs.”
Playoffs - Round 1
The Lady Eagles started the 2021 playoffs hosting the SOL Centennial League Champions with a three set victory! The first set had the Eagles trailing until late set. Down 14 - 18 Shanahan turned the tables and rallied back to win 25-22. The Eagles took that momentum and rolled with it, winning set two 25 - 14 and set three 25-17. Leading the way for the Eagles were senior hitters Coco Shultz with 11 kills, 8 digs, 1 block; Maddie Rudolph with 10 Kills, 1 ace, 7 digs, and 3 blocks; and Laura Brozey with 5 kills and 1 dig. Not to over look the defensive work by Delaney Dwyer with 1 ace and 7 digs, and Maddie Metcalfe with 2 aces and 6 digs. On Saturday the Eagles will host Lower Merion in the District 1 Quarter-Finals. Time not yet set. Please come out and support the girl's in what promises to be an exciting match!
The Lady Eagles started the 2021 playoffs hosting the SOL Centennial League Champions with a three set victory! The first set had the Eagles trailing until late set. Down 14 - 18 Shanahan turned the tables and rallied back to win 25-22. The Eagles took that momentum and rolled with it, winning set two 25 - 14 and set three 25-17. Leading the way for the Eagles were senior hitters Coco Shultz with 11 kills, 8 digs, 1 block; Maddie Rudolph with 10 Kills, 1 ace, 7 digs, and 3 blocks; and Laura Brozey with 5 kills and 1 dig. Not to over look the defensive work by Delaney Dwyer with 1 ace and 7 digs, and Maddie Metcalfe with 2 aces and 6 digs. On Saturday the Eagles will host Lower Merion in the District 1 Quarter-Finals. Time not yet set. Please come out and support the girl's in what promises to be an exciting match!
Ches-Mont Champions
The BSHS volleyball team hosted Kennett on October 21st in the last regular season match, while also celebrating Senior Night! After a three set sweep, the Ches-Mont title is back home where it belongs!
Leading the way for the girls was Megan Collins who had a fantastic night serving, earning 13 points from the service line. Also adding 13 points from the service line was Delaney Dwyer. Coco Shultz and Maddie Rudolph powered the offensive attack for the Eagles with 13 and 12 kills respectively.
Shanahan finishes the regular season with a 15-3 record, capturing their 15th Ches-Mont title in 18 years. The Eagles are currently seeded 3rd in the District I rankings, and will open the playoffs at home Thursday, Oct 28th. The opponent is yet to be determined. Please come out to support the Eagles as they look to capture their 9th District title!
The BSHS volleyball team hosted Kennett on October 21st in the last regular season match, while also celebrating Senior Night! After a three set sweep, the Ches-Mont title is back home where it belongs!
Leading the way for the girls was Megan Collins who had a fantastic night serving, earning 13 points from the service line. Also adding 13 points from the service line was Delaney Dwyer. Coco Shultz and Maddie Rudolph powered the offensive attack for the Eagles with 13 and 12 kills respectively.
Shanahan finishes the regular season with a 15-3 record, capturing their 15th Ches-Mont title in 18 years. The Eagles are currently seeded 3rd in the District I rankings, and will open the playoffs at home Thursday, Oct 28th. The opponent is yet to be determined. Please come out to support the Eagles as they look to capture their 9th District title!
October 14th
The Shanahan volleyball team took one step closer to clinching their 13th league championship by defeating the tough Sun Valley Vanguards who were ranked 8th in the District I, 4A rankings. The match was a battle from the start with the Eagles going up early in the 1st set, only to see their lead slip away as they dropped the first 23-25. However, the Eagles hung tough and won the next 3 sets to win the match! With the win, the Eagles only have two more league opponents left on their schedule. On Saturday 10/16, the Eagles will host the Bishop’s Cup match with non-league opponents: Lower Merion ranked 7th and Boyertown ranked 6th. Should be a great day of volleyball. Please come out to support and cheer the girls on! Matches start at 11am at Shanahan!
The Shanahan volleyball team took one step closer to clinching their 13th league championship by defeating the tough Sun Valley Vanguards who were ranked 8th in the District I, 4A rankings. The match was a battle from the start with the Eagles going up early in the 1st set, only to see their lead slip away as they dropped the first 23-25. However, the Eagles hung tough and won the next 3 sets to win the match! With the win, the Eagles only have two more league opponents left on their schedule. On Saturday 10/16, the Eagles will host the Bishop’s Cup match with non-league opponents: Lower Merion ranked 7th and Boyertown ranked 6th. Should be a great day of volleyball. Please come out to support and cheer the girls on! Matches start at 11am at Shanahan!
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Photos by Jeff Dunn.
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October 12th
The BSHS volleyball team had a match with Downingtown East on Tuesday and was victorious 3-0. Leading the Eagles were Coco Shultz with 14 kills and 3 aces, and Sophia Rothstein with 8 kills. Shanahan is now 11-1 and take on Garnet Valley on 10/13, away. It Should be a great match to come out and cheers on the Eagles! |
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Photos by Jeff Dunn.
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October 8th
The evening of Thursday, October 7th was a date circled on the calendar for a year as the Lady Eagles waited for the chance to avenge the only team to have beaten them last season. The wait was well worth it! The BSHS girls volleyball team played the best match of the season, and had many players step up to the challenge. For one of the first times in the program’s history, the Lady Eagles were the underdogs. The girls played loosely and with lots of energy, storming out to win the first set 25–20. They continued with the same energy, taking set two 25-18. Just when it looked as if this was going to be an early night for the Eagles, Unionville showed why they are ranked #2 in the state and were undefeated on the season. The Longhorns came back by winning the next two sets with identical scores 25-22, forcing a final deciding set. The Lady Eagles regrouped and got back to the energy and looseness that they had displayed in the beginning of the match, and it worked! The team was able to win the deciding set in decisive fashion 15-7! Standouts for the Eagles were a newcomer, freshman Libero, Maddie Metcalf, who showed she belonged by providing solid defense and strong serving. Also for the Eagles were seniors Maddie Rudolph, Coco Shultz, Amelia Develin, Laura Brozey, Julia Pagnatto, Delaney Dwyer, and Ali Monaco. They couldn’t have gotten the job done without the outstanding play from sophomore Keira Dunn and junior Sophia Rothstein too! The team is now 10-1 and have another tough week coming up. Let's go, Lady Eagles! |
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Photos by Jeff Dunn.
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October 7th
The BSHS girls volleyball team hosted Cardinal O'Hara High School in a “Unite for Her” fundraiser last night. Everyone was wearing pink to show their support, and it was a beautiful sight. On the court, the girls flexed their muscles early and often. The Lady Eagles were led with strong net play by Coco Shultz and Maddie Rudolph, and were led by Keira Dunn from the service line. The Eagles are now 9-1 on the season, and they play again TONIGHT; JV at 5:30 PM and Varsity at 7 PM against the undefeated Unionville Longhorns in a Ches-Mont league battle at home! Let's go, Lady Eagles! |
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Photos by Jeff Dunn.
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October 6th
The girls volleyball hosted Villa Maria for the first time in 10 years yesterday! The Eagles lost sets 1 and 2 but stormed back to win the next 3 sets, including an amazing final set of 18-16! The match was back and forth throughout with long volleys and tremendous fight on both sides of the net. On top of all the effort that went into playing the match, the Eagles found themselves without three of their starters as well. Kiki Murphy, Sophia Rothstein and Audrey Sautner filled in and did a tremendous job. The Eagles are now 8-1 and host Cardinal O’Hara tonight at 6:45 PM in their “Unite for Her” fundraising night |
September 28th
On 9/28, the Lady Eagles volleyball team remained undefeated as they headed to Oxford for their league match. The Eagles are now 6-0 for the season and were led by strong hitting from Maddie Rudolph with 11 kills, Coco Shultz with 10 kills and Laura Brozey with 6 kills. The Eagles were also strong from the service line lead by Keira Dunn with 11 points, Maddie Metcalfe with 10 and Ali Monaco added 9 points. On 9/29, Shanahan travels to Pope John Paul II High School for a non-League match at 7pm. Good luck, Lady Eagles!
On 9/28, the Lady Eagles volleyball team remained undefeated as they headed to Oxford for their league match. The Eagles are now 6-0 for the season and were led by strong hitting from Maddie Rudolph with 11 kills, Coco Shultz with 10 kills and Laura Brozey with 6 kills. The Eagles were also strong from the service line lead by Keira Dunn with 11 points, Maddie Metcalfe with 10 and Ali Monaco added 9 points. On 9/29, Shanahan travels to Pope John Paul II High School for a non-League match at 7pm. Good luck, Lady Eagles!
September 23, 2021
Shanahan faced off against league rival Avon Grove. The Lady Eagles remained undefeated with a 3 set victory to increase their record to 5-0. Shanahan was led by strong serving by freshman libero Maddie Metcalfe with 3 aces, and 15 points from the service line. She was not the only one cranking up the points from the service line - Coco Shultz also added 3 aces with 8 points from the line, and Delaney Dwyer and Maddie Rudolph with 9 points each on their serves. Not only did Shanahan dominate from the service line, but they also had a great day with their offensive attack hitting a season high, .459%. The Eagles were led by Maddie Rudolph with 20 kills, Coco Shultz with 7, and Laura Brozey with 3.
Shanahan faced off against league rival Avon Grove. The Lady Eagles remained undefeated with a 3 set victory to increase their record to 5-0. Shanahan was led by strong serving by freshman libero Maddie Metcalfe with 3 aces, and 15 points from the service line. She was not the only one cranking up the points from the service line - Coco Shultz also added 3 aces with 8 points from the line, and Delaney Dwyer and Maddie Rudolph with 9 points each on their serves. Not only did Shanahan dominate from the service line, but they also had a great day with their offensive attack hitting a season high, .459%. The Eagles were led by Maddie Rudolph with 20 kills, Coco Shultz with 7, and Laura Brozey with 3.
September 21, 2021
Bishop Shanahan girls volleyball traveled crosstown to take on undefeated Downingtown West (5-0) for a clash of two of the league’s best. Shanahan started the match with great energy and exploded to a 25-10 first set victory behind strong serving by Maddie Rudolph. The second and third sets were a little closer but Shanahan’s dominance prevailed with 25-18 scores for both. The win was a total team effort. Shanahan moves to 4-0 for the season and will take on Avon Grove at home on Thursday 9/23 after school.
Bishop Shanahan girls volleyball traveled crosstown to take on undefeated Downingtown West (5-0) for a clash of two of the league’s best. Shanahan started the match with great energy and exploded to a 25-10 first set victory behind strong serving by Maddie Rudolph. The second and third sets were a little closer but Shanahan’s dominance prevailed with 25-18 scores for both. The win was a total team effort. Shanahan moves to 4-0 for the season and will take on Avon Grove at home on Thursday 9/23 after school.
September 15, 2021
Shanahan girls volleyball won it’s third straight match on September 15th over WC Rustin in straights sets 3-0. Standouts for the team were freshman libero Maddie Metcalf, Sr setter Ali Monaco and Sr outside hitter Maddie Rudolph. Shanahan stays unbeaten in league play: 3-0 overall.
Shanahan girls volleyball won it’s third straight match on September 15th over WC Rustin in straights sets 3-0. Standouts for the team were freshman libero Maddie Metcalf, Sr setter Ali Monaco and Sr outside hitter Maddie Rudolph. Shanahan stays unbeaten in league play: 3-0 overall.
September 10, 2021
Bishop Shanahan started their 2021 season with a tough match v WC East. Early on it looked as if it was going to be a short night with the opponent getting the better of the lady Eagles. Shanahan dropped the first set 24-26 and then the second 22-25. It wasn’t until late in the third set that Shanahan found some momentum and was able to sneak out a 25-22 set victory. The Eagles used that momentum to roll through the 4th set 25-10 behind string serving by Delaney Dwyer, Maddie Metcalf and Ali Monaco. As the Eagle started to find their groove with strong net play from Maddie Rudolph and Coco Shultz, the Eagles set themselves up for the deciding 5 set. Going down early, they fought their way back to sneak out a 15-13 victory!
The Eagles are at the toughest tournament in the state this Saturday; Wilson HS where 15 of the 20 teams are ranked in the top of the state. Good luck Lady Eagles!!
Bishop Shanahan started their 2021 season with a tough match v WC East. Early on it looked as if it was going to be a short night with the opponent getting the better of the lady Eagles. Shanahan dropped the first set 24-26 and then the second 22-25. It wasn’t until late in the third set that Shanahan found some momentum and was able to sneak out a 25-22 set victory. The Eagles used that momentum to roll through the 4th set 25-10 behind string serving by Delaney Dwyer, Maddie Metcalf and Ali Monaco. As the Eagle started to find their groove with strong net play from Maddie Rudolph and Coco Shultz, the Eagles set themselves up for the deciding 5 set. Going down early, they fought their way back to sneak out a 15-13 victory!
The Eagles are at the toughest tournament in the state this Saturday; Wilson HS where 15 of the 20 teams are ranked in the top of the state. Good luck Lady Eagles!!
