After finishing third in the Freedom Division last season, the girls’ volleyball team looks to improve upon their record this season under new head coach Chuck Casey. Assisted by coach Robert Spier and freshman coach Colleen DiPietro, the team is currently 8-13 with two regular-season matches left of the season.   

Coach Casey is eager to make his mark on the team as head coach. 

 “I’ve had a great experience and it’s been super fun, and I’m excited to go to practice every day,” Casey said. 

Senior Alex Arnold said she appreciates Casey’s communication skills, which have helped each member of the team improve.

“Casey is very thoughtful,” Arnold said. “He communicates a lot, which is good. So if he sees anything, he’ll say something like if you’re messing up and you don’t know what’s going on, he’ll tell you what’s going on.” 

Casey’s management of the team has led to the team’s success. After opening their season with a 2-1 loss against Burlington Township, the Lady Pirates went on to have a three-game winning streak in mid-September against Sterling, Pennsauken, and Burlington City. 

Senior Grace Drayer said rival games have been won for the first time in a while with him as the new coach.

“Sterling we just played, that was a pretty big rival, and we won,” Drayer said. “So that’s good. I think that’s the first time we beat them since 2020.” 

In addition to members of the team recognizing Casey’s leadership, Coach DePietro said others – including competitors – have taken note of Casey’s effective coaching style. 

“The coach on the other team complimented him on how well he manages the team and how positive he is with the players,” DePietro said. “Even if there’s a bad play, he’s always upbeat and positive and just really encouraging.” 

As a result, the team has built a strong bond among its members. Arnold, a senior captain, said she ensures it’s a safe environment for players of different levels to learn from their mistakes. This means maintaining a positive attitude, both for herself and for her teammates.

“And especially as a senior I tried to again maintain positivity and make sure everyone feels like they belong,” Arnold said. 

With the season’s end drawing near, the eight seniors on the team prepare to say goodbye.

“I’m gonna miss my team because everyone is all very nice,” Drayer said. “And you know, I’ll miss the fun things that we do, you know, team bonding.” 

After a tough 2-0 loss to Kingsway on Tuesday, the girls will take on Clearview on Monday.