Fox Chapel Area girls volleyball coach Diana Andreyko admits that the past couple of years were not the strongest for the program. But this year, thanks to a group of athletes who gained much experience over the past four years, more athletes looking to play year-round, and a nationwide trend of growing interest in the sport, things are looking up.
Coach Andreyko, formerly a standout player on the University of Pittsburgh women’s volleyball team, said this is the first year since she has been the Foxes head coach that so many of her players came really prepared for the rigors of high school volleyball.
“We had a very nice and packed summer,” she says. “The girls participated in a summer league at the Pittsburgh Elite Gym, we went to a volleyball camp, and we also had more girls participating in the high school’s strength and conditioning program coached by Brandon Peifer.”
So far this season, the team has won more games than the last two years combined. Optimism is high, and the coaches and team believe it’s only the beginning of what they can achieve. And, they are getting some recognition along the way. Middle hitter sophomore Emma DiRocco was just named a WPIAL Class 4A Tribune-Review Player of the Week.
Outside hitter junior Claire Feczko says it was rewarding to see the commitment to offseason training this year.
“We’ve always done it (strength and conditioning training), but this is the first year we’ve had a big number of girls attend,” Claire says. “The difference now is how well the team flows together on the court. We have an understanding of each other’s abilities, and we trust our teammates to dig a ball or get a kill. This makes the matches so much less chaotic and helps generate a better level of play.”
Assistant coach Nikki Oakes agrees, saying, “We can really see the growth and development this year.”
It’s not just the girls’ increased desire to train that’s making a difference; it’s an overall maturity and shift in attitude.
Senior co-captain Scarlett Hancock explains, “I think it’s really important to hold everyone to high standards in the most positive way. I think our coach would agree that we have a lot of potential this year, so I think it’s key that we’re all aware of what we’re capable of doing and then executing that. There will always be times when we’re not playing our best, but it’s essential to not get mad, because it changes the whole team dynamic.
“Although I am this year’s libero, I was a six-rotation outside hitter from my freshman to junior year. Being able to see everything from the back, I think our strengths this year are communication and execution on getting the third ball over the net. Our middles have also been doing a great job at reading the ball and blocking. I think the way to describe this team is united, determined, and enthusiastic.”
One thing the team cannot fake is height, or the lack thereof. It’s certainly a bonus to have it in this sport, but the Foxes are showing there are ways around it.
“Height is definitely not on our side when it comes to our team,” Scarlett says. “That being said, I’m only a little over 5’3”, but I don’t think my height challenges my ability to play my position, keep the ball off of the ground, or just overall give my full out effort at all times.”
Other key members of the 2023 varsity lineup are juniors Adelyn Bursick, Brooke Fenton, Alaina Hershey, and Vanessa Perez Milano, and seniors Sophia Gass and Jillian Stahl. Each player has contributed greatly to the evolution of the team and the positive direction in which they are headed.
