Lady Bombers compete in school’s first ever volleyball season

When Palmerton volleyball coach, Marsha Thomas asked her first year players to write down their team goals, she cautioned them not to consider the number of matches they would win.

“I told them we were going to take our lumps this season.”

Thirty-four girls tried out and 19 were picked for the team. “The first criteria to make the team was who could serve the ball overhand over the net.”

Thomas, who was offered the job last July when her husband, Anthony, a JV basketball coach at Palmerton told her to “put my hat in the ring, “ explained that other than gym class or picnic volleyball, very few girls ever tried to serve overhand.

“With only three or four girls of the 19 we chose having some competitive volleyball experience, I began by teaching the team specialization, defining each position and what skills were needed to play those positions.”

Thomas brings a solid resume to Palmerton. She played volleyball at Tamaqua “many moons ago” and also played four years at Lynchburg College, at which she then spent three years as an assistant coach.

As expected, the Bombers, who roster just one senior of the 19, are struggling and have yet to win a match, but Thomas said one of the two most desired team goals has already been accomplished.

“We set out to win one game and just a few weeks ago we defeated Catasauqua, 28-26 in overtime. The funny thing about it was the girls never knew there was overtime in volleyball and I had not prepared them for that.”

Palmerton won the game, but lost the match; however, the realization of a goal accomplished was very satisfying to both coach and team.

The other team goal is to improve their serve efficiency to get 90 percent over the net.

“We are currently at about 78 percent. When we practice serving. I move them up a bit so they can work on technique before they can master distance.”

Two areas the Bombers need to improve upon are service receiving and communication. Good opponents are scoring six or more consecutive points with one girl serving, some with aces and others because of poor position play.

“That involves communication and we are getting better in that part of the game,” said Thomas. “We must talk to each other when the ball is in play so everyone knows where it is going and who to pass it to.”

Another consequence for Palmerton is they have no home matches this season because the school’s basketball floor has not yet been drilled to install the locks that anchor the net. Long bus rides are times to review matches and identify the areas of the game that are to be emphasized.

“We have a JV and a varsity team, which is good because the girls get more playing time, but we have only one net to practice with at the junior high school.”

Thomas, who works at Highwood USA in Hometown and holds a degree in health and physical education, has been able to tolerate her team’s growing pains when she gets home and steps into her world of a husband and four young children.

“I’m also extremely competitive in my nature and I might be internalizing our struggles, but I’m careful not to show that to the team. They get my support and my encouragement and we are taking small steps to get better everyday.”

She intends to have a summer camp and off -season clinics for interested younger students at the junior high school.

“Some of our girls have expressed an interest in playing club volleyball. Teams like Southern Lehigh play all year round and that’s why they have a great program.”

For now the immediate task is to win a match and Thomas is confident that her team has a good chance of accomplishing that within the next few weeks.

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MILESTONE ... Marian head coach John Fallabel got his 300th career win Monday when the Fillies defeated Holy Redeemer 20-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20, 15-12. Marian is 9-0 this season and has already clinched a sport in the District 11 Class 1A tournament.

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FRESHMAN PHENOM ... Freshman Jonathan Perloni scored in overtime, his second goal of the game, to lift Palmerton to a 5-4 nonleague win over Tamaqua last Thursday. Even though it was senior night, Perloni led the Bombers in goals, including the game-winner in extra time.

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NOT ONE, NOT TWO ... Tamaqua junior Derian Stianche had a hat trick in the Blue Raiders’ overtime loss to Palmerton last week.

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GET IN THE HOLE! ... Palmerton’s Mason Kistler had a hole-in-one in the Bombers match against Wilson last Wednesday. Kistler, who finished with a round of 86, got his ace on the 15th hole at the Blue Shamrock Golf Course (par-71) using a nine-iron.

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SETBACK ... The Salisbury girls soccer team came up with a late goal last Wednesday to gain a 2-1 win, handing Northwestern its first loss of the season. Kelly Gardus scored what would be the winning goal with 1:53 left to play.

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SHE’S GOING THE DISTANCE ... Marian’s Tina Capparell continued her strong season over the weekend at the PIAA Foundation Invitational in Hershey, Capparell was sixth in the girls race with a time of 19:18 running on the same course where the PIAA Championships will be held later this fall. Capparell also finished second in the Northampton Invitational, and was victorious at the 39th DeSales Centaur Invitational earlier this season.

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STAT LINE ... Several Times News area soccer players are enjoying strong seasons. Tamaqua’s Derian Stianche is fifth in the Schuylkill League with 19 points, while Lehighton’s Isaiah Everett is seventh (16). Stianche and Everett are tied for sixth with seven goals apiece. Stianche and the Indians’ Patrick Lawlor both have five assists, tied for sixth in the league. Jim Thorpe’s Chis Williams and Alex Mierzejewski are tied for eighth for eighth in the league with four assists apiece. Tamaqua’s Reese Szabo has made 23 saves and owns a .793 save percentage, good for fourth in the league. Jim Thorpe’s Kingsley Ehling and Lehighton’s Zach Andrews have both recorded two shutouts this season, tied for the fourth-most in the league.

On the girls’ side, Tamaqua’s Emma Kuczynski is tied for 14th in the league with 15 points. Kuczynski, who has five goals, is tied for ninth with five assists. Weatherly’s Shannon Frye has made 79 saves and ranks second with an .823 save percentage. Lehighton’s Julia Frey (. 788) and Tamaqua’s Flo Rios (. 775) are sixth and seventh, respectively. Jim Thorpe’s Monae Bullock (. 725) is 10th. Rios is tied for third in the league with three shutouts.

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FORE ... A number of area golfers had strong performances at the Schuylkill League and Colonial League golf championships on Monday. Marian’s Nick Kurzinsky led the way with a ninth place at the annual Schuylkill League boys golf championship. Kurzinsky carded an 88 at Mahoning Valley Country Club, topping all area golfers. Tamaqua’s Carson Schoener finished with a 90 to end in 12th place.

The Northwestern boys were third in the team standings at the Colonial League golf championships.

The Tigers posted a score of 434, finishing behind Moravian Academy (394) and Southern Lehigh (415).

Tyler Wiik, Mason Vogwill, and Joel Frey all finished with an 86, ending in a six-way tie for 13th place.

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A GRAND ... Jim Thorpe’s Alexandra McGinley surpassed 1,000 digs during a Schuylkill League contest on Sept. 26 against Lourdes. She’ll will be recognized during next Tuesday’s home game against Lehighton.