Pope John Paul II High School’s girls varsity volleyball is finishing the season in 1B WIAA play and heading into district playoffs with its eyes focused on a return to the state championship. This year’s team is 13-2 and 12-0 (Sea-Tac League) in the league heading into the Sea-Tac League tournament next week where all the 1B schools from the league compete (there are also three 2B schools in the league).
Head coach Audry Howard is excited for her team for the friendships and community they have built but also because believes her team has the ability to move into postseason play. “Last year, we were able to make it to state for the first time in school history despite losing our setter in our first match at the district tournament,” Howard stated. “This year we hope to be more competitive at districts and state, if we get there.”
The team has a core of five seniors including Adrianna Levesque, Lindsay King, Adeline Hecht (league co-MVP last year), Cyril Areopagita, and Sisi Siu. Sophomore Jalenna Dizon and freshman Shaina Verona start as underclassmen. As a small private 1B school, one highlight is Adeline (Addie) Hecht is not only the team’s Libero, but she also runs on the Pope John Paul II High School cross country team, the defending 1B state champions.
The squad is determined and one difficulty the team endures is not having a home gym.
“We’ve had practices at four different locations and a couple times only conditioning outside and watching match videos in a classroom. It’s not a complaint and we are grateful to the facilities we get, just our reality without our own gym,” stated Howard.
A few season highlights for the team include an early 3-2 set win at Northwest Christian High School in Lacey to open Sea-Tac League play back in September. The team also recently won a close 3-2 set win at 3rd place Sound Christian in Tacoma. Three of the starters were missing for the match so it was a new opportunity for others on the team to contribute.
