Four seniors return to the Pittston Area girls volleyball starting lineup after helping the team to a successful 2019 season.
The Lady Patriots went 11-4 in the Wyoming Valley Conference, moving up from an eighth-place tie a year earlier to finish fifth out of 16 teams. They followed that up with a District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional quarterfinal victory before taking top-seeded Berwick to five games in the semifinals.
“My assistant coaches, Greg Ratchford, Marley O’Brien, and I are looking forward to a successful season with our veteran squad,” Pittston Area coach Johanna Wooldridge said. “I feel as though we have a starting lineup with a great amount of experience to help us be a strong force on the court.
“Our players have been working hard all summer to improve their skills and work together to be a very competitive team in our league.”
All four returning starters – Tiara George, Syra Reza, Emilee Shaw and Jiana Moran will spend time playing defense. George is also the team’s top setter. Moran plays setter, outside hitter and middle hitter. Reza and Shaw are outside hitters.
The Lady Patriots have seven other players with varsity experience, looking to fill the starting lineup and land key spots in the rotation.
Defense/outside hitters Abby Bartoli and Bella Guasto and outside hitter Jessica Zaladonis are the other returning seniors.
The juniors who have experience are middle hitter Amanda Fath, defense Emily Dietrick and defense/outside hitters Ava Butcher and Leah Zambetti.
“Our junior and sophomore squad is a very talented and athletic group of girls that will certainly contribute to our success as a varsity team,” Wooldridge said.
