SCHA rallies back in second set (photo-Gia Lanci)
PHILADELPHIA- Germantown Academy (GA) got off to a good start in their first match of the Inter-Academic League season against host Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCHA) yesterday afternoon.
The 2015 defending Inter-Ac Champions (4-1 overall, 1-0 league) came away with the 3-0 win, but not without a fight from the Blue Devils (1-2, overall, 0-1 league). The first set was dominated by GA with a 25-9 win.
But things seemed to turn for the Blue Devils in the second set as they began to gain cohesive momentum leaving everything on the court in a hard-fought 25-21 comeback.
Despite their efforts, the Patriots’ defense was right on point and held SCHA to take away the third set 25-16.
GA vs. SCHA winning point (video Gia Lanci)
GA takes an aggressive lead in 3rd set
Defensive attack by GA (photo-Gia Lanci)
Germantown Academy junior, Jenna Schumann, led the team with seven kills, two digs, and a season high nine aces. Junior, Alison Weber had seven kills and two digs. Senior captain Emma Rapp had five kills, two blocks and three aces. Junior setter Cat Polisano had two kills, three digs and 22 assists.
“We certainly want to be competitive in our conference, whether that means winning half our matches or whatever it happens to be,” said Springside Chestnut Hill Academy head coach Randy Syracuse.
This is Syracuse’s first year at the helm of this Blue Devil squad.
“We fought tooth and nail with Germantown in the second set and we want that to be consistent in every set,” Syracuse said. “I am very excited to be starting a new era with this team. I think we have a lot of players with great potential, and we will continue to work hard with them.”
GA’s head coach Dan Sullivan is ready for this season, and despite the loss of a hefty senior squad to graduation, he has high expectations for this year’s team.
“We have young talent, and they have big shoes to fill,” said Sullivan. “Our goal is to be in position by the end of the season to compete for the title once again.”
Next league game for Blue Devils is next Tuesday when they face Academy of Notre Dame at home.
The Patriots next league game is on the road, when they too face the Irish on Friday, Sept. 23rd.