The Paul VI Catholic High School Lady Panthers are turning in another excellent volleyball season. PVI, coached by Shannon Walker and assistant Jennifer Strauss (both first year), currently weigh-in with an overall record of 7-2.

"I've got high expectations for this team," said Head Coach Shannon Walker.

The "Black and Gold" has defeated: Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Md., Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Md., St. Mary's Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Md., Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington and Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria. The only two matches that the Lady Panthers have dropped have been to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, Md., and to St. John’s College High School in Washington. In the Panthers match in Fairfax versus Ireton (Sept. 29), PVI won in three games, but Ireton led 9-4 in the early stages of the third game.

"We turned it around by playing real scrappy defense and by serving aggressively," said Jennifer Strauss, PVI assistant head coach. A standout senior class is spearheading the Panthers in ’05: (alphabetically) defensive specialist Katie Buckheit, setter Kim Clum, middle hitter Sarah Jancuska, outside hitter Kaitlyn Morrell and setter Carol Opiela.

"All of our seniors are leaders. We don't have any designated captains at this point in time, but we look to all of our seniors for leadership," said Walker. "Sarah Jancuska as our middle hitter can make a real big impact on the game."

Jancuska said, "playing middle hitter — it is important to get the blocks. It is also a big offensive tool for this team."

The underclassmen include: juniors — defensive specialist Daphne Burr, defensive specialist Lauren Dunman, outside hitter Chelsea Gates and outside hitter Bernadette Michel; and sophomores — middle hitter Julia Moore and "libero" Maria Ralston.

"We employ a variety of starting lineups. It depends in part upon whether we serve or whether we receive. Both Kim Clum and Carol Opiela are excellent servers," Walker said.

Opiela said, "The setter is the position on the team that sets up the plays. It's sort of like the quarterback. Also it's important for me to encourage the other girls."

The Panthers head coach spelled out her offensive and defensive philosophy, "Offensively, we try to spread things out. We've got enough talented offensive players on this team — where it's not all on one person’s shoulders. Defensively, everyone gives 120 percent. Playing the back row is very demanding. All of the girls go to the ball."

Maria Ralston leads the team in "digs" with approximately 12 per match. "We try to play as many girls as possible," Walker said. "Everyone puts in their time and does a tremendous job in practice. We kind of live and die by team chemistry."

PVI was scheduled to visit Seton, Md., on Oct. 4, Good Counsel on Oct. 6 and are scheduled to host Archbishop Carroll High School from Washington Oct. 12.