The playdays are behind them, which means it’s time for the volleyball teams to suit up and serve for real. The Catholic high schools are a combined 1-0 as of this writing, as St. Elizabeth opened the season on Sept. 4 with a sweep at Glasgow. The other five teams get going today, with one playing at a temporary home and another traveling to the gym of the defending state champion.
Schedules are accurate as of Sept. 5, but changes are certain to occur. Be sure to check before heading out to watch. Some schools also require tickets to be purchased online in advance.
Now, time for the opening serve.
Thursday, Sept. 5
Ss. Peter and Paul at Friends School of Baltimore, time TBA. The Sabres begin their third season on the road, but most of their matches are set to take place at home. They will do so with seniors Nicoletta Mood in the libero position, and classmates Ava Eshelman and Abigail Nesselroad among the outside hitters.
Home matches in CAPS
Sept. 5: at Friends School of Baltimore, time TBA
Sept. 6: INDIAN CREEK, 5 p.m.
Sept. 10: at Worcester Prep, 4 p.m.
Sept. 18: at Gunston, 4 p.m.
Sept. 19: ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 23: SALISBURY CHRISTIAN, 5 p.m.
Oct. 1: at Salisbury Christian, 5 p.m.
Oct. 3: CONCORDIA PREP, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: GUNSTON, 5 p.m.
Oct. 14: WORCESTER PREP, 5 p.m.
Oct. 15: ANNAPOLIS AREA CHRISTIAN, 4:30 p.m.
Dickinson vs. Ursuline, 4 p.m. at Salesianum. Hopes and expectations are high at Ursuline as the volleyball team kicks off its season with a matinee at Salesianum. The Raiders reached the state championship match in 2023 and are eager to get back, with a different result.
They are playing their first three home matches at Salesianum while their home gymnasium is being renovated. After that third match on Sept. 12, the Raiders are not scheduled to play at home until Oct. 12, by which time they hope to christen the new gym in front of their rabid student section.
Ursuline is also playing for a new coach, as Lauren DiSabatino has added those duties along with athletic director. DiSabatino has a veteran roster to rely on, with 12 seniors ready to contribute. They are led by C.C. DeCaro, Claire Kelly and Caitlyn McGonigal up front, with Juliette Cummings and Hayley Timmons providing all around support. Hayley Timmons returns as one of the best servers in the state.
They’ll face off against powers Padua and Saint Mark’s twice each, plus Tower Hill, Archmere, Delmarva Christian and New Jersey’s Paul VI. In addition, the Raiders are traveling to Massachusetts for a tournament with their sister Ursuline schools.
Home matches in CAPS
Sept. 4: DICKINSON, 4 p.m. at Salesianum
Sept. 7: DELAWARE MILITARY, 2 p.m. at Salesianum
Sept. 10: at Padua, 7:15 p.m.
Sept: 12: TOWER HILL, 5:15 p.m. at Salesianum
Sept. 18: at Archmere, 7 p.m. at the St. E Center
Sept. 20: at Delmarva Christian, 6 p.m.
Sept. 24: at Saint Mark’s, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 27: TBD, at Ursuline Academy (Mass.), time TBA
Sept. 28: TBD, at Ursuline Academy (Mass.), time TBA
Oct. 10: at St. Elizabeth, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 12: CAPE HENLOPEN, 3 p.m.
Oct 15: at Wilmington Charter, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17: PAUL VI (N.J.), 6 p.m.
Oct. 24: PADUA, 6 p.m.
Oct. 26: SAINT MARK’S, 7:15 p.m.
St. Elizabeth (1-0) at Padua, 6 p.m.
The Vikings look to take strides under second-year coach Shayne Hinton, and they play the second of a two-match season-opening road trip on Sept. 5 at Padua. St. Elizabeth started with a 3-0 sweep of Glasgow on Sept. 4.
Against the Dragons, St. Elizabeth got kills from six players, led by Olivia Justison with seven. She will be joined on the front line by Ariel Garcia and Alexis Testerman. They will rely on setter Sirriya Cruz for help.
The Vikings will be tested in several of their games, with matches against the other Catholic schools and also fellow Diamond State Athletic Conference teams.
Home games in CAPS
Sept. 4: at Glasgow, 4:45 p.m. (3-0 win)
Sept. 5: at Padua, 6 p.m.
Sept. 10: CONRAD, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 12: RED LION, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 17: vs. Archmere, site TBA, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26: at Saint Mark’s, 6 p.m.
Sept. 30: at A.I. duPont, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 4: WILMINGTON CHARTER, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: MOT CHARTER, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 10: URSULINE, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 14: at First State Military, 4:45 p.m.
Oct. 16: CHRISTIANA, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: WILMINGTON FRIENDS, 2 p.m.
Oct. 22: at Delaware Military, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 23: NEWARK CHARTER, 5:30 p.m.
Padua is a perennial contender in Delaware high school volleyball, and this year should be no different as coach Rainbow Shaw-Giaquinto brings a veteran squad to the floor.
A year after graduating seven seniors, the Pandas have six on the roster this season, along with five juniors. Hannah McGuigan and Kaitlyn Leberstien lead the offensive attack, with a good supporting cast. The defense is led by libero Kaitlyn Maus and defensive specialist Donavyn Morris, and Avery Pilger will set much of the time.
Twelve of the Pandas’ 15 matches are against tournament teams from last season. The opponents include powerhouses Ursuline and Saint Mark’s twice each, along with Archmere, Wilmington Charter, Delmarva Christian and Newark Charter. Toward the end of the season, Padua will take on New Jersey power Paul VI and Pennsylvania’s Garnet Valley.
Home matches in CAPS
Sept. 5: ST. ELIZABETH, 6 p.m.
Sept. 10: URSULINE, 7:15 p.m.
Sept: 13: ARCHMERE, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 17: at Saint Mark’s, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 21: at Indian River, 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 23: WILMINGTON CHARTER, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 24: DELMARVA CHRISTIAN, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 30: CARAVEL, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 1: at Newark Charter, 6:15 p.m.
Oct. 3: at Delaware Military, 6 p.m.
Oct 8: PAUL VI (N.J.), 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 15: at Tower Hill, 5:15 p.m.
Oct. 17: at Garnet Valley (Pa.), 6:15 p.m.
Oct. 22: SAINT MARK’S, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24: at Ursuline, 6 p.m.
Archmere at Smyrna, 6 p.m. The Auks travel to meet the defending champions in Kent County, part of a four-match road trip to open the 2024 campaign. The Auks and Eagles have opened the season against each other every year since 2017 except for 2020, with Archmere winning the first three and Smyrna the last three.
The Auks, members of the Diamond State Athletic Conference, have their hands full with their schedule after opening night. Conference foes include Wilmington Charter, Newark Charter, Conrad and Delaware Military Academy. They’ll also face Padua, Ursuline, Caravel, Appoquinimink and Tower Hill. All of these games will be away from Moglia Fieldhouse, which is getting a new floor and is currently unavailable. The first two home matches will be at the St. E Center, with the other five at a location to be determined.
Sept. 5: at Smyrna, 6 p.m.
Sept. 10: at MOT Charter, 6 p.m.
Sept: 13: at Padua, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 17: ST. ELIZABETH, 5:30 p.m. at the St. E Center
Sept. 18: URSULINE, 7 p.m. at the St. E Center
Sept. 24: at Red Lion, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 26: at Caravel, 6:15 p.m.
Oct. 1: at Wilmington Charter, 6 p.m.
Oct. 4: APPOQUINIMINK, 6 p.m.
Oct 8: DELAWARE MILITARY, 6 p.m.
Oct. 11: at Conrad, 6 p.m.
Oct. 15: NEWARK CHARTER, 6 p.m.
Oct. 18: SAINT MARK’S, 6:15 p.m.
Oct. 22: TOWER HILL, 6 p.m.
Oct, 24: at First State Military, 4:45 p.m.
St. Georges at Saint Mark’s, 7:15 p.m. The Spartans open the campaign against a tough St. Georges squad, looking to take the first step toward a return to the DIAA championship match for the fifth time in the last six seasons. They had played for four straight titles before bowing out in the quarterfinals last year.
They’ll do so with a talented roster playing under coach Nancy Griskowitz. The Spartans are led by senior hitters Lauren Mehelas and Reagan Garibaldi and junior setter Maddi Way. In addition, Saint Mark’s has a deep supporting cast, with several players who will play a more prominent role this season.
The Spartans will play their normal challenging schedule but have just six matches in front of their boisterous student section. They’ll welcome Padua, Ursuline, Newark Charter and defending state champion Smyrna to Tom Rosa Court, while traveling to Padua, Ursuline, Wilmington Charter, Caravel and Archmere.
Home matches in CAPS
Sept. 5: ST. GEORGES, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 11: at Brandywine, time TBA
Sept: 13: at Wilmington Charter, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 17: PADUA, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 19: at Red Lion, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: URSULINE, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 26: ST. ELIZABETH, 6 p.m.
Oct. 1: at Delaware Military, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3: NEWARK CHARTER, 7:15 p.m.
Oct 8: SMYRNA, 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 10: at Appoquinimink, 6 p.m.
Oct. 15: at Caravel, 6:15 p.m.
Oct. 18: at Archmere, 6:15 p.m.
Oct. 22: at Padua, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26: at Ursuline7:15 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 6
Indian Creek at Ss. Peter and Paul, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7
Delaware Military vs. Ursuline, 2 p.m. at Salesianum
