Mount volleyball back on the court

by Tom Utescher
Posted 9/4/21

The Mount volleyball team graduated only four players from last year's squad as opposed to six the year before, but there are still some gaps that the 2021 squad has to fill.

The 2020 team got off …

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Mount volleyball back on the court

Posted

The Mount volleyball team graduated only four players from last year's squad as opposed to six the year before, but there are still some gaps that the 2021 squad has to fill.

The 2020 team got off to a 7-0 start last fall, and among the athletes graduated from that group were big middle hitter/blocker Viv Carrasco and setter Allie McKnight. Two defensive specialists with a lot of varsity experience departed as well.

This year's Magic franchise has size up front in senior Olivia Esposito (6'1") and junior Daphne Mond (5'10"). The captains are a pair of seniors, hitter and defensive specialist Mary Kate Feilke and libero Dylan Flannery.

In an early scrimmage against Hatboro Horsham High School, the captains and Esposito started, along with senior setter Aisleigh Hopkins, junior defensive specialist Katie Webb and sophomore right side/setter Gillian Manas. Manas is currently the only member of the varsity who is not a senior or junior.

Quickly rotating in as hitters for the Magic were Mond and fellow junior Georgia Pickett. Providing additional depth in the hitting positions are senior Katie Geatens and juniors Sophia Funchion and Alison Williams. Juniors Claudia Kasperski, Lizzy Sadorf and Ava Vespe are defensive specialists.

Amy Bergin is back for her fifth season as Mount St. Joseph head coach, and once again she'll be assisted by Jerry Abdalla, a seasoned club volleyball coach and the father of two former Mount players. MSJ faculty member and 2010 grad Mary Kate Steinmetz had been an assistant coach with the team for some time, but this fall she's stepping aside due to increased responsibilities in the academic realm.

Mount St. Joseph Academy