The Blue Mountain Volleyball and Girls’ Soccer teams have been two of the most successful programs in recent years within the school and the Schuylkill League. The volleyball team is the defending Schuylkill League Champions going into this season and the girls’ soccer team is coming off of a Schuylkill League silver medal last year after their state runner-up finish in the 2018 season. Both teams were hit with losses from graduation, but both return a solid core of starters from their seasons last year. Both teams should be contenders in the Division 1 race.
The Volleyball team is coming into this year after a strong season in 2019. The Lady Eagles were division 1 and Schuylkill League champions and reached the DIstrict XI Semifinals before losing to powerhouse Allentown Central Catholic. The Eagles lost four seniors from that squad; Cheyenne Stein, Grace Sadusky, Mihaleigh Grube, and Megan Weiss. The Lady Eagles have to replace a setter, middle hitter, and defensive specialist for their starting lineup this year.
All state selection and Old Dominion commit Myah Conway will start at opposite hitter. Other returning starters include senior Jocelyn Marshall and senior outside hitter Grace Woll. Seniors Mia Heim and Maddy Robinson, and Junior Paige Thomas all saw significant time last season and will start this year or rotate in and see lots of playing time. Rounding out the lineup will be a mixture of Freshman Rosa Gergley and Junior Abbie Heffner at setter and a mix of Junior Regina Gergley and Senior Maddy MacDonald at defensive specialist. The Eagles have already started the year with 3-0 sweeps of Lehighton and Jim Thorpe, a five set thriller win over Nativity and are looking to contend for another Schuylkill League and possibly a District Championship this season.
The Blue Mountain Girls’ Soccer team will look a bit different this year as 22 year coach Mike Burcik stepped down for the Eagles. Replacing him this season is former Minersville Boy’s head coach Adam Freeman. The Eagles only lose three seniors from last year’s team, but lose another starter with Sophomore Kaydence Oakley moving schools. The Eagles will look to replace Oakley, Abree Lewis, and Emily Carestia this year with a talented freshmen class and some experienced varsity players. The Eagles will also have to replace Junior star Lindsay Kutz, who will miss the season with an ACL injury suffered during basketball. Starting in goal will be Junior Angel White.
Returning starters from last year’s team are Sophomore Danika Bolinsky, Juniors Lexi Phillips, Morgan Yuengling, Erin McKivigan, and Megan Thompson, and seniors Norah Ghosler and Kera Paul. Projected to start as well this year are Seniors Julia Kluge and Riley McCalicher, and Freshman Sophia Chipriano. The Eagles schedule started off very tough, where the young Eagles battled with Pine Grove and Pottsville, but dropped both games with a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals and a 2-1 2OT loss to the Tide.
