Not since 2018 has Delone Catholic won a District 3 Class 2A Volleyball Championship, namely because Trinity has dominated the sport, not only locally but statewide, grabbing two PIAA championships in recent years.
Last year, the Squirettes lost a heartbreaking match to Trinity on the latter’s home floor and the Shamrocks’ win propelled them to the school’s second state title. But on the same floor 364 days later, Delone Catholic pulled off a stunning 5-set (15-13) upset of the defending state champs to earn their spot in this year’s District 3 final on October 30 against Schuylkill Valley at Central York High School, with the Panthers being the number one seed.
For the past quarter of a century, despite not having won district gold in seven years, the Squirettes have been the gold standard statewide, having also notched a couple of state titles.
“We had our eyes set on getting revenge against Trinity all year because of last year,” head coach Carli Lehr said. “It was a huge emotional win for us and to achieve that was a real high for us.”
Yet, two days later, after a draining 5-setter against the ’Rocks, Delone faced a Panther squad with just one loss all year. They’re a big hitting team who can pound you to dust if you do not block, dig and pass well.
Make no mistake, Delone is arguably not going to spike kill you out of the gym. But what they do very well is pass and set, which sets up a very poised, smart dink game that keeps opponents guessing where to defend. And the strategy worked brilliantly against the Panthers, who were scrambling all night to figure out where Delone was attacking the floor.
“The other night against Trinity was such an emotional win and a real high for us,” Coach Lehr said after the finals match. “So that emotional roller coaster of up and down and getting back up is very, very difficult. It was difficult tonight for us for sure. But, I am just so proud of these girls for how they played and battled through it all. It’s a tough thing to do to win a big match and then turn around and do it all over just days past.”
Delone came out sluggish, falling behind in the first set, but rallied to nip Schuylkill Valley (located 10 miles north of Reading) by a couple of points to grab that all-important 1-0 lead. But they dropped the second set and then trounced the Panthers 25-12 in the third, looking like cruise control was now set on that revving sports car. But the Squirettes dropped the penultimate set, which set the stage for a thrilling, tense, fifth and final set. Tied 8-8, it was anybody’s match. But impressively so, the Squirettes rattled off a 5-0 run and then held on to capture the gold medal that has eluded this outstanding program.
Delone played a flawless fifth set in every phase, not missing a pass, set or serve. If there is an ultimate clutch moment in high school sports, fifth sets in volleyball are the real deal. “That fifth set was incredible,” an emotional Coach Lehr said with tears in her eyes. “We just played so well, and I am very, very proud of them for rising to the occasion and handling their emotions. They stayed focused.”
Given District 3’s success in the 16-team PIAA bracket in recent years, the Squirettes will be a bracket draw no program will look past.
(Photos by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness.)
By Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness
