What will the Padua Academy volleyball team have to do to defeat its nemeses, Ursuline Academy and St. Mark’s High School, who perennially refuse to let anyone else take home the title?
It was 1992 the last time the state championship trophy went home with another team.
Padua has suffered heartbreaking loss after loss in post-season play to the two power houses for five years – most recently, two semifinals, and the three years prior, in the state championship.
The talent is there, but every year, something seems to hold a promising Padua team back. Perhaps most telling was the Pandas late season failure to take the advice of one boisterous fan at Ursuline shouting the mantra, “Swing it.” Instead, Ursuline set up kills all night and spiked Padua’s soft lobs, unchecked.
It was a shocking loss from which Padua never really recovered. When they drew powerful St. Mark’s High School in the semifinals, the Pandas bowed out. St. Mark’s eventually lost to Ursuline.
“It’s a really hard lesson to learn,” Padua coach Angel Payne said. “It is a difficult thing coming in second…always the bridesmaid, never the bride.’ And it gets old.”
Payne was Ursuline Head Coach Susan Heiss’ assistant before coming to Padua, so she experienced some of those state championship wins.
“For all the teams I’ve had, the expectation is to win the state championship. It’s always hard when you don’t have that happen,” she said. “Yeah, I’m sick of it.”
So, what about this year?
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Volleyball Players to Watch Archmere
Ursuline
Delaware Military Academy Delcastle
OH Kristin Ryan, MH Rebecca Burchfield, DS Kelsey Deboda
Tower Hill S Gracie Firestone (so.), H Joanna Kelly (jr.), H Suzanne Singer (sr.)
Red Lion Christian |
Well, Padua has a returning 6-foot-1 hitter of its own back this year. Her name is Rachel Jenkins, a junior. Also back is 5-foot-8 setter Rhianon Graham. Graham will be setting up Jenkins all year.
Jenkins of Bear and Graham of Brandywine Hundred have both been on the varsity since they were freshmen. Payne said on a team with no seniors, that veteran leadership will be vital.
“Whoever steps up and wants it the most will get it,” Jenkins said.
While the Pandas may have their work cut out for them, with a lot of strong and vocal girls, they are pretty good themselves, Graham said. Payne also likes the strong, new freshmen talent coming on board.
“We’re going to have a lot of experience, which is nice,” she said. Also returning for Padua are Morgan Groh, a defensive specialist, and sophomore Gina Marchesiello, an outside hitter.
And Payne is getting youth, which also has its advantages. “You get to be a senior, you think too much. What I’m learning with the freshmen is, you throw a ball and they just go after it.”
What will Padua’s approach be this year? Precision and chemistry.
“I’m still going to go for power, but it’s really going to be about placing it this year in different spots,” said Jenkins.
Jenkins, who went to Christ the Teacher, and Graham, who went to Holy Rosary, have great chemistry because they’ve been playing volleyball together since they were 12.
The Pandas need to approach every game like they’re playing the state champion, Payne said.
There are a number of teams that will be good. Archmere returns with most of its players. So does Wilmington Friends. And St. Mark’s and Ursuline will simply reload.
“There’s a lot of tough teams in the state this year,” she said. “I think every team has something.”
