Archbishop Carroll’s girls volleyball team is gearing up for the coming season with summer conditioning, new uniforms, an assistant coach search, community service projects and fund-raising planning.
Preparation for the 2025 fall volleyball season began with twice-a-week open gyms, which concluded May 19. Next comes a summer plan that will aim to have players in shape in time for tryouts on Aug. 11.
Preseason for the fall 2024 season had a lot of conditioning.
“I knew we were going to have to battle 3-5 sets per game, and our schedule was packed,” said Ms. Melanie Cotes, the varsity head coach. “Pre-season is the perfect time to work on this; that way, we do not have to worry about it as much during the season.”
Ms. Cotes uses preseason as the time to assess the strengths and weaknesses her team had the year before and to improve.
Additionally, Cotes, who also is a Spanish teacher at Carroll, is in the process of hiring a new assistant coach. Several people have shown interest in the position.
The former assistant coach was known for improving team members’ hitting and blocking. Nonetheless, Ms. Cotes is a setter who said she feels she has setting, passing and defense covered.
“Do not get me wrong, I do know how to coach hitters and blockers, but being able to split that job with an assistant coach was a big relief,” Ms. Cotes said. “I think the players are the ones who are going to miss him the most.”
Ms. Athena Lehatto, who has been coaching at Carroll for four years, continues as the junior varsity head coach.
“Athena was the JV coach before I had arrived,” Ms. Cotes said. “She has been a blessing to have as part of our team and I could not have asked for anyone better to welcome me into Carroll volleyball again.”
As for the team’s uniform, the girls will be rocking a new look this year — sleeveless jerseys and leggings. The uniform formerly consisted of shorts and jerseys with sleeves.
Before they don the uniforms and start playing, however, the girls have two preseason community service projects planned. One will be serving food and water to the homeless in Center City Philadelphia. The other will include organizing backpacks for needy students.
“I thought these two community service ideas were great to do because it’s important for us to help people in need while also making sure they feel seen,” rising junior Katelyn Sinnott said. “By doing these community services, it allows the people we are helping to know that people are thinking of them.”
Team plans also call for raising money for new nets and poles. The girls will raise those funds through running indoor and outdoor volleyball tournaments. They will also be doing fundraisers at restaurants, car washes, and arcades to pay for volleyballs needed for the season. They also plan on running a camp for seventh and eighth graders that aims to raise funds for team celebrations.
“We chose these fundraisers because they not only bring in the support we need for essentials like game balls, but they also help us build a strong community,” rising senior Vickie Lehatto said. “Most importantly, it allows us to celebrate our team’s hard work without putting any financial pressure on us or our families during the season.”
