In a spirited Diocesan and York-Adams matchup on Thursday night, the York Catholic Fighting Irish girls’ volleyball team welcomed the Squirettes of Delone Catholic for an early-season contest.
Both programs have enjoyed success over the years – York Catholic a PIAA runner-up in 2022 and Delone a 13-time District champ – but the Squirettes proved dominant in the matchup on September 11, topping the Irish in four sets (25-11, 25-16, 18-25, 25-18).
The contest gave both teams an early assessment on the season. Coming off a PIAA 11-7 record last year, the Irish, under head coach Shane Gephart, are looking to improve on last season’s performance. Delone is testing new waters, too, as first-year head coach Carli Lehr takes the helm.
“Right now, we’re stressing ways to improve in every game and every practice and figure out what’s working or what’s not. We want to keep progressing so that we’re playing the best volleyball come end of season,” she said after the win.
The Squirettes finished at 18-2 last year, ending their season with a loss to Trinity in the District 3 Class 2A finals for the second year in a row.
Tournament success in District 3 girls’ volleyball doesn’t come easy, and Lehr said it’s critical to work on the small stuff. “We’re focusing on taking care of easy balls and the simple things that translate into wins,” she said.
That recipe proved successful against York Catholic, thanks in part to the net-front presence of senior Reece Meckley and junior Lily Kane. Delone handily claimed the first two sets, but the Irish rebounded in the third, capitalizing on a handful of their opponent’s service errors and fighting to keep balls alive with a series of impressive digs and effective spikes, notably from libero Isabella Zimliki and outside hitter Reagan Miller.
The Irish sought to keep their newfound momentum rolling into the fourth set, but the Squirettes stifled any further drive, converting an early lead to seal the victory.
The teams have a rematch on October 7 with the Squirettes as host, and a clearer view on where both stand ahead of the District 3 tournament two weeks later.
(Photos by Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
