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Jump Serve: Villa Maria

Tom Reisenweber — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:30 +0000

Villa Maria Victors
Coach (season, record): Mike McMahan (5th season, 29-31)
2010 overall record: 6-6
2010 region record (place): 6-6 (fourth)
2010 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Amanda Holby, Katie Machalinski
Top returning players: Jennie Fustine, Madison Easly, Melissa Mischler
Assistant coach: Nathan Barber
Outlook: Villa Maria made its way through a brutal region schedule and just missed out on the playoffs. The Victors will need to improve in camp to earn a postseason spot this fall. Amanda Holby is an all-region selection but she graduated along with Katie Machalinski. Returning for Villa are Jennie Fustine, Madison Easly and Melissa Mischler. The Victors have plenty of experience back along with some depth. Villa will need some big contributions from the underclassmen in order to get into the playoffs.

Schedule
September
6 Conneaut Lake 7:15
15 at Strong Vincent* 7:15
20 at East* 7:15
22 Central Tech* 7:15
27 at McDowell* 7:15
29 Harbor Creek* 7:15
October
4 Mercyhurst Prep* 7:15
11 Strong Vincent* 7:15
13 East* 7:15
18 at Central Tech* 7:15
20 McDowell* 7:15
25 at Harbor Creek* 7:15
27 at Mercyhurst Prep* 7:15

Sunday: West Middlesex, Wilmington, Youngsville

– Tom Reisenweber

Corner Kick: Villa Maria

Tom Reisenweber — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:00:04 +0000

Villa Maria Victors
Coach (season, record): Walt Federowicz (13th season at Villa, 17th season overall, 197-57-7 at Villa, 259-73-14 overall)
2010 overall record: 16-6-0
2010 region record (place): 6-2-0 (second)
2010 playoff results: Lost 8-0 to Mercyhurst Prep in the District 10 Class AA championship and 8-0 in the PIAA first round.
Top players lost: Kayley Jones, Emily Carlin, Nicole Shellenbarger
Top returning players: Kaitlyn Kissell, Maddy Reichel, Abby Kenski, Alexus Edinger, Melissa Blenner, Courtney Edwards, Alexis Monocello, Jillian Blaszczyk
Assistant coaches: Narciso Burgos, Aaron Jones, Sara Deeb
Outlook: Villa Maria has remained a powerhouse for years and most of that success has come from adapting to change. With a state champion (Mercyhurst Prep) in its region, coach Walt Federowicz and the Victors are looking to make another major adjustment. Villa will change up the offense and defense this year and might go through some growing pains before the team gets used to the new system. If all goes well, the Victors will be a huge roadblock for the Lakers in the playoffs. Villa’s biggest concern in camp will be replacing Kayley Jones, Emily Carlin and Nicole Shellenbarger. Jones and Carlin controlled the midfield last year while Shellenbarger was a solid goalkeeper. Jones was named to the all-district team on offense and was voted to the all-region first team, while Carlin and Shellenbarger were second-team all-region selections. Leading the way this fall is Kaitlyn Kissell. Kissell is an all-district pick and set school records in 2010 for goals in one game and one season. She is set to smash the school record for career goals this season. Also back are Maddy Reichel, a converted defender that was voted to the all-region team last fall, Abby Kenski, Alexus Edinger, Melissa Blenner, Courtney Edwards, Alexis Monocello and Jillian Blaszczyk. Kenski, Edinger and Blenner were all named to the all-region team last fall. Villa starts the season off with three home games including a showdown with Mercyhurst. If the Victors win all three, Federowicz will celebrate his 200th win as the Villa coach. If not, Villa will look for his 200th win at Corry and Meadville.

Schedule
September
2 Central Tech 4
7 Mercyhurst Prep* 5:30
10 Warren* 5:30
13 at Corry* 4
19 at Meadville 7
21 at Central Tech 4:30
24 at Hickory 12:30
28 Strong Vincent 7
29 at Fort LeBoeuf 4
October
1 Harbor Creek 2:30
3 at Mercyhurst Prep* 7:30
5 at Warren* 5
8 Corry* 1
11 at Bradford* TBA
15 Fairview 4
19 East 6
22 at McDowell 4:30
24 Bradford* 6

Sunday: West Middlesex, Wilmington

– Tom Reisenweber

Villa Maria impressive in national showcase

Tom Reisenweber — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:32:53 +0000

The Villa Maria girls soccer team traveled to Strongsville, Ohio over the weekend to compete in the Adidas National Girls High School Showcase and came away with a 3-2-2 record in seven matches against top competition. The Victors started off with a 1-1 tie against Revere and close losses to Normandy (1-0) and Zanesville (2-1). Standout Kaitlyn Kissell had Villa’s goal against Revere, while Alexis Monocella scored against Zanesville.

Villa recovered from its 0-2-1 start to win three of its last four matches. The Victors beat Midview 4-2 behind two goals from Abby Kenski before defeated Norwayne 4-2. Morgan Putnam led Villa with two goals. Villa tied Midburg 1-1 with Putnam scoring again, and the Victors beat Waynesville 2-1 behind goals from Kissell and Courtney Edwards.

– Tom Reisenweber

Friday’s high school basketball predictions

Tom Reisenweber — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:33:48 +0000

Kayla McBride, Villa Maria's all-state guard

I ran my state playoff record to 29-4 with a perfect 11-0 second round. As the playoffs march on the teams get better and the predictions get tougher. Here is what I think will happen tonight at Slippery Rock’s Morrow Field House.

Boys

Class A

Kennedy Catholic 52, Sewickley Academy 50

Class AAA

Farrell 65, Greensburg Salem 58

Girls

Class AA
Villa Maria 58, Bishop McCort 52

– Tom Reisenweber