Last year, the GA volleyball team’s season ended victoriously, as they emerged with their second-ever Inter-Ac title and first-ever PAISSA title. A lot of work is put into creating a winning culture, but skill is not the only thing that makes GA volleyball continuously successful.
The team has most girls returning with Hadley Evans ‘25, Caroline Smith ‘25, and Olivia Reynolds ‘25 as the captains for the 2024 season. Emily Pokorny ‘26, Abigail Traina ‘26, and Nicole Ward ‘26 are playing as returning starters for the team from that PAISSA final last year. Pilar Presson ‘26, a transfer student from Gwynedd Mercy Academy, is also making a big impact on the team so far. The team has a lot of experience throughout their roster this year.
The season is looking great for the Patriots as they are 17-8-1 overall and 5-2 in the Inter-Ac for the regular season. Their stats show a hopeful playoff season to come: Smith leads the team in kills with 329, which is 13th in the state, while Presson and Evans follow with 187 and 132, respectively. Reynolds leads the team in digs with 209, while Smith and Ward follow with 190 and 169, respectively. Ward leads the team in assists with 533, which is 27th in the state, while Jade West ‘26 follows with 120.
While the team is very talented and well-rounded, the success of the 2024 volleyball team is not just from a physical aspect, but a mental one as well.
“We also try to focus on the mental side of it,” head volleyball coach Chuck Dougherty said. “Making sure the girls aren’t overused, making sure they understand the team dynamics.”
As the team gets close to playoffs, they like to practice very hard some days and get their best reps in, but it is also a key part of the team’s success that they take long stretching breaks, as well as lifting in the Jordan Center to make sure they are strong and healthy for upcoming games.
“I want to make this like a volleyball destination,” Dougherty said. “I want people to realize that GA is a volleyball school.”
As the program at GA evolves, the schedule has become tougher for the team in order to challenge them. This year, the girls played in the Wilson Tournament which included the top three teams in Pennsylvania. The team culture of the team has been something that was emphasized since the season started, and allows the team to compete at such a high level.
“The moment I stepped onto the court with the team I felt so welcomed and at home,” Presson said.
The team culture allows them to play in unison and create a bond that forms a family atmosphere, which is evident on and off the court. When the team is not playing or practicing, they attend team bonding experiences to develop their chemistry for the court. The girls use team lunches as well as friendly competitions to build chemistry.
“I like to say we are all sisters because we’re one big happy volleyball family,” Reynolds said. “Sisters laugh, fight, annoy each other, but we’re always there for one another.”
The captains, Evans, Smith, and Reynolds, play an important role in the team’s success, as they create sisterhood throughout the team, leading to better performance. They know the players the best and are captains because of their leadership, dedication, and positive attitude on the team. These three seniors have become the winningest class in GA history because of their continued dedication to the team throughout the years.
“Everyone on the team has their own way of getting motivated, so I try to learn everyone’s personalities and what works best for who,” Reynolds said.
As the regular season continues, the team looks to work together to face the rest of their Inter-Ac games, and with their hard work in practice, they look to future success.