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Girls Volleyball: Determined Strath Haven rolls on

Posted On: Tuesday, September 23, 2014
By: ldevlin

NETHER PROVIDENCE — Some losses linger longer than others. A season ago, Strath Haven bowed out in the second round of the District One volleyball playoffs to Sun Valley. A Central League title only made the early exit that much worse.

“It still hurts,’ said head coach Kevin Haney, now in his 14th season at the helm of the Panthers. “Our goal is to get back to states. It won’t be easy, especially with Garnet Valley and Penncrest in our league.’

Monday night, Strath Haven continued its strong march back to the playoffs. The Panthers (10-1, 5-0 Central League) dispatched Upper Darby (3-7, 0-4) in three games by scores of 25-10, 25-16, and 25-15.

Lopsided affairs are nothing new to the dominant Panthers. Haney uses the games as an opportunity to rotate through the lineup as well as prepare his team for the challenges down the road.

“We’re continuing to build on team concepts,’ he said. “We need to believe that we can make good plays against any opposition.’

Strath Haven’s depth shined at home Monday. Bree Fisher and Maura Gibbs led the Panthers with a modest six kills. Captain Ellie Steif contributed 14 assists, while Maddie Caspari added 11 helpers. There was no one standout performance — a fact that defines this Strath Haven squad.

“We have a team that has a lot of depth,’ Haney said. “We can play any girl in any situation. It’s a next-man-up philosophy. We take a full advantage of our talent, and we’re fortunate that we can play everybody.’

The Panthers also feature a strong mix of youth and experience. Steif and co-captain Kara Pell lead a group of nine seniors that is bolstered by eight underclassmen. Gibbs and Caspari are both juniors, while Rachel Kent, a sophomore, swayed the second game with back-to-back kills when the score was at 17-13 in Strath Haven’s favor.

“We have a ton of experience and we’re all friends,’ Pell said of the Panthers’ team chemistry. “It’s a good thing for the younger players to learn from.’

To hear Pell tell it, though, that friendship can cause problems as well.

“We’re a goofy group,’ she said. “We’re such good friends on and off the court that some times we have trouble focusing in really important moments. Our experience helps.’

 

Click here to read the remainder of the article. http://www.gametimepa.com/delaware/ci_26585513/girls-volleyball-determined-strath-haven-rolls

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