Panther Valley captured a Schuylkill League title a year ago, and reached the district championship game. The Panthers are hoping to compete once again this season.

Jim Thorpe and Lehighton, meanwhile, have switched leagues and both should be strong competing in the Colonial League.

JIM THORPE

Head coach - Stephanie Petrucci (1st year)

League - Colonial

Key losses - Maggie Hallihan, Olivia Calcano, Ali Marchiante, Priscilla Patton.

Key returnees - Brooke Mitzen (Sr., OH), Brianna Snisky (Sr., MH), Kelsey Patton (Jr., OH), Maura Malaska (Jr., S)

Top newcomers - Remy Gorski (So., OH), Daniella Hernandez-Sosa (Sr., L), Mara Levins (Sr., MH), Avery Balliet (Jr., OH), Abbey Kuhn (Jr., MH)

Season outlook - Thorpe is optimistic about this season. The Olympians have been looking good in preseason scrimmages. JT expects to compete for both league and district titles.

Quotable - “We have some strong hitters back. Brooke and Brianna are going to be very hard for teams to deal with. We also put a lot of time into improving our stamina and our defense this offseason, which I think is really going to pay off for us.” - Coach Petrucci.

LEHIGHTON

Head coach - Lauren Nietz (2nd year)

League - Colonial

Key losses - Amanda Burns, Sinceray Behler.

Key returnees - Laura Thomas (Sr., MH), Lyla Kershner (Sr. L), Mackenna Snyder (Sr., OH), Vera Hartsell (Sr., DS), Autumn Clewell (Jr., S), Jocelynn Kuhn (Sr. MH).

Top newcomers - Timara Klotz (Sr., OH), Aleea Yeakel (So., DS), Ava Trach (So., OH)

Season outlook - The Indians return strong senior leadership. The Tribe should also be tough to defend at the net. Expect Lehighton to contend for a postseason berth.

Quotable - “I think we’re very balanced. We have some height at the net. Offensively and defensively, we’re just very solid. I think we have the potential to be a really good team and compete and contend all season long.” - Coach Nietz.

MARIAN

Head coach - Maria Currie (1st year)

League - Schuylkill Division 2

Key losses - Julia Meiss, Abigail Kluck.

Key returnees - Isabella Horvat (Jr., OH/L), Alina Lombardo (Jr., MH), Zoey Katona (Sr., OH), Eris Hayes (Jr., S)

Top newcomers - Maddy Davis (So., MH/OH), Caydense Smith (Jr., DS/L), Kali Grochowski (So., OH), Lara Cancio (Jr., OH)

Season outlook - This season’s Marian squad is scrappy and a versatile group. Expect to see the Fillies put together a strong effort on the defensive end of the floor, while their offense develops throughout the season.

Quotable - “Our defense, I think, can be a big asset for us this season. We looked good in our scrimmage, which was a good sign. This is a really scrappy bunch. They hustle for everything, and they work and play hard.” - Coach Currie.

NORTHWESTERN

Head coach - Mike Maston (4th season)

League - Colonial

Key losses - Danielle Dengler, Megan Holman, Kylie Nagle, Mikayla Turner

Key returnees - Shannon Green (Sr.), Leah Nagle (Jr.), Norah Silfies (Sr.)

Top newcomers - Jessie Unrath (Fr.), Kayla Schaffer (Fr.)

Season outlook - Northwestern missed the district playoffs by percentage points when power ranking points were the tiebreaker, giving Notre Dame-Green Pond the edge. This season, with Lehighton and Jim Thorpe joining the league, the playoffs have expanded, and the Tigers have a strong roster that could do some good things. Shannon Green comes into the season one assist shy of the 1,000 mark.

Quotable - “Each year I expect us to keep getting better. We’re not going to go from zero to 100 in a year, but we’re progressing every year, and I think this year is going to be the best squad we have put on the floor so far.” – Coach Maston

PALMERTON

Head coach - Savannah Merkle (2nd year)

League - Colonial

Key losses - Jessica Heydt, Emily Christopher, Caylee Strohl, Kaitlin Heimbach.

Key returnees - Claire Thomas (Sr., OH), Sadie Gair (Jr., S), Elizabeth Keiper (Jr., OH), Hailey Barry (Jr., MH).

Top newcomers - Kylie Mattrazzo (Jr., L), Dalainey Keiser (Fr., MH), Mikayla Maxwell (Jr., OH).

Season outlook - Palmerton is looking to improve in the win-loss department this season. The Bombers are looking to build a winning foundation, as the team bond is good.

Quotable: “We have some power from the service line. That’s going to be big for us. I think our hitting is also improved, so I expect us to be better on the offensive end this season.” - Coach Merkle.

PANTHER VALLEY

Head coach - Emilie Baker (6th year)

League - Schuylkill Division 1

Key losses - Riley McArdle, Maddison Maynard, Lucy Greco.

Key returnees - Natalie Vermillion (Sr., OH), Emma Dacey (Sr., OH), Abby Benack (Sr., S), Morgan Orsulak (Jr., S/OH), Caroline Breslin (Jr., L)

Top newcomers - Jaelynn Browdy (So., OH), Jessica Hackash (So., MH), Chloe Hadley (Jr., MH), Ava Alabovitz (Jr., MH)

Season outlook - The Panthers return a core group of starters to carry on their winning mentality. Expect PV to yet again be in the mix for league and district gold.

Quotable - “We’re going to be a very strong serving team again this season. We move the ball around a lot, which is always tough to defend. I also like the versatility we have with our hitters. As always with our girls, I can’t say enough about their work ethic and passion to get better every time they hit the floor.” - Coach Baker.

TAMAQUA

Head coach - Aaron Knepp (1st year)

League - Schuylkill

Key losses - Four seniors from last year’s team have departed from the Tamaqua program.

Key returnees - Leah Black (Jr.), Kelsey Lusch (Jr.), Maddison Schock (So.), Samantha Miller (Sr.), Nicole Mushock (Sr.), Paige Setcavage (Sr.), Leah Crowley (Sr.).

Top newcomers - Millie Black (Fr.)

Season outlook - The Blue Raiders are looking to improve this season. They have a good blend of senior leadership returning, mixed in with rising juniors and underclassmen.

Quotable - “We have a strong basis that I’m trying to develop into something more than the sum of its parts. If we can get our serves and serve receive down, we have a good chance of making a big impact this season.” - Coach Knepp.

PLEASANT VALLEY

Head coach - Drew Dymond

League - Eastern Pennsylvania Conference

Key losses - Lexi Womack, Brianna Bruckman, Hannah Akob, Emily Shupp

Key returnees - Laura Ballek (Sr.) Ali Snyder (Sr.), Alexis Wilkes (Sr.), Amiyah Poliseno (Sr.), Rylee Ruggiero (Jr.)

Top newcomers - Emma Webber (Jr.), Mya Williams (So.), Isabella Slizewski (Fr.)

Season outlook - Dymond takes over for the retired John Gesiskie after last year’s team enjoyed a lot of success with an undefeated regular season. PV played some close matches in the EPC and district playoffs en route to a 19-2 season. Dymond has five seniors to turn to in his first year as head coach. PV also has all-state junior Rylee Ruggiero to lean on to register kills for the team. It will be interesting to see how PV holds up in Dymond’s first year after serving as Gesiskie’s assistant for many years.

Quotable - “I’m looking forward to hopefully competing, trying to make the postseason again. Hopefully, the girls have fun with this and are just looking to get better each day. Replacing John is no easy task. He brought volleyball to Monroe County pretty much, and he’s done so much for this program. It is a challenge, but I’ve been a sponge for him for many, many years and learned from him as much as possible.” - Coach Dymond

WEATHERLY

Head coach - Erica Kane-Poweski (2nd year)

League - Schuylkill Division 2

Key losses - Taylor Davidovich, Reina Whalen.

Key returnees - Rachel Rosenlund (Sr., S), Kaiya Kunkle (Sr., OH, DS), Abby Teodorescu (Sr., DS), Izabel Jones (Sr., S), Kelly Reiner (Jr., OH), Abby Weston (Jr., DS/OH), Abby Binder (Jr., MH), Kendra Moyer (Jr.)

Top newcomers - Olivia Marasco (So., OH), Bria Broskoski (Jr.).

Season outlook - The Wreckers are hoping they can get a few more wins this season than the four that they posted last season. With experience coming back, it’s expected that they can accomplish just that.

Quotable - “Our strength this season is going to be our hitting. I think we have improved on that very much. Our footwork is improving, and you can see that. I think we also work well together and communicate well.” - Coach Kane-Poweski.

Volleyball capsules by Brad Hurley, Kyle Magda, Chuck Hixson