EAHS Girls Volleyball All-Stars

Ally Stengel and Kelly Sebzda were both named second team Lancaster-Lebanon League all-section players.

Stengel had a standout senior season as E-town’s setter. Most of her sets were hammered for points by Sebzda, who was a force from outside hitter. The Bears finished the season 4-10 overall.

EAHS girls volleyball preview

(E-town’s key players this season include, from left, Megan Myers, Ally Stengel, Kelly Koons, Kelly Sebzda, Trisha Stauffer and Amanda Heisey.)

Head Coach: Danielle Bert, second season.

Key Returners: Ally Stengel, senior, setter; Trisha Stauffer, senior, libero; Kelly Koons, senior, opposite hitter; Kelly Sebzda, senior, outside hitter; Megan Myers, senior, middle hitter; Leigh Miller, junior, outside hitter/middle hitter.

After going through last year with a relatively inexperienced team, E-town returns a solid core of upperclassmen to lead them this year.

Stengel is now in her second year as the team’s setter and will be feeding the ball to all of E-town’s hitters.

Koons, Sebzda, Myers and Miller will all be relied on to get the majority of the Bears’ kills. They learned a lot from their first varsity seasons a year ago and will be back to carry the Bears offensively.

Stauffer is E-town’s libero. She is a smart senior and will show leadership on the court.

Key Losses: Emily Baughman, graduation; Kristen Lowe, graduation; Hannah Slack, graduation.

E-town wasn’t hit too hard by graduation, but it did lose three of its best players. Baughman and Lowe were both stellar defensive players and their serve reception and digging skills will be missed.

Slack was E-town’s strongest hitter last year and was also one of the team’s best blockers.

Key Newcomers: Rachel Dern, junior, outside hitter; Kayla Walmer, junior, opposite hitter; Megan Thomas, junior, defensive specialist; Amanda Heisey, senior, defensive specialist.

E-town is stocked with good hitters, and Dern and Walmer add to that mix. Thomas and Heisey will prove to be valuable immediately with their defensive skills.

Strengths: Serving.

According to Bert, the Bears serve the ball well and, more importantly, are consistent with it. E-town will need to continue that in order to get into the playoff hunt.

Weaknesses: Serve receive.

The Bears are lacking in serve reception, which is where players like Stauffer, Dern and Walmer could come in. If they can limit opposing aces, and get the ball to Stengel to set up E-town’s big hitters, the Bears should finish about the .500 mark.

Outlook: Now in her second full season as head coach, Bert has a good feel of her players and their progress has been evident so far.

“Our goal is to have a never give up attitude, which we have been doing well in practices so far,” she said.

The Bears are a close-knit group and have good on-court chemistry, which usually leads to lots of points being scored and matches won. E-town will rely on its returning players for leadership and to keep the atmosphere positive throughout the season.

E-town rebuilt last year and now has a solid core to take the necessary steps back to contention. Bert gives them stability at the the coaching position and is now in her second season working with the same players. That work should begin to pay off as the Bears take the court beginning this Saturday.

Bert is confident that her team will use its leadership and unity to make a move toward the top of the section standings.

“We should have a winning season and will work together as a team,” she said.

Watch for the Bears to be in contention for a league playoff spot.

EAHS Fall Sports Schedules

After a long summer of virtually no posts here at the Bears Den, today we officially kick off the fall sports season.

As I type this, E-town athletes are on the practice fields sweating through two-a-days in hopes of coming away with some hardware this fall. And as they do that, I figured I'd post the schedules of each EAHS varsity. Remember to start visiting here more often, because the posting will be more frequent with sports getting underway. I've included scrimmages on these schedules in case you want to get out and see some preseason action. I'll be at the football scrimmage on Saturday morning and will post something here (not in the print edition of the paper) on that game.

OK, here they are...and welcome back fall. Good to have you.

FOOTBALL

All home games played at Thompson Field
Preseason:
Saturday, Aug. 16, vs. Cedar Crest (scrimmage), 9 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, at East Pennsboro Area (scrimmage), 6 p.m.
Regular season (section games in bold):
Friday, Aug. 29, at J.P. McCaskey, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Muhlenberg, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12, vs. Manheim Township (Hall of Fame induction), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20, at Solanco, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26, at Conestoga Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3, vs. Garden Spot, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10, vs. Cocalico (Homecoming), 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17, at Manheim Central, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 24, at Ephrata, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31, vs. Lebanon (Senior/Parent Night), 7 p.m.
The Bears have something special planned for each home game, but I'll save that for another blog entry.

FIELD HOCKEY

All home games played at Jane Hoover Field
Preseason:
Saturday, Aug. 16, Scrimmage Play Day, 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Donegal (scrimmage), 4 p.m.
Regular season:
Friday, Aug. 29, at Exeter Township, noon.
Saturday, Aug. 30, vs. Central Dauphin, 10 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 4, vs. Cedar Crest, 4:15 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Tulpehocken, 4 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 8, vs. Warwick, 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, vs. Manheim Township, 4:15 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12, at Penn Manor, 4:15 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 15, vs. Hempfield, 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, at J.P. McCaskey, 4:15 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Conestoga Valley, 4:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Cedar Crest, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 25, at Warwick, 4:15 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 29, at Manheim Township, 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 1, vs. Penn Manor, 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3, at Hempfield, 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6, vs. J.P. McCaskey (Senior/Parent Night), 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Conestoga Valley, 4 p.m.
Notable dates:
Saturday, Oct. 11, League playoffs begin.
Thursday, Oct. 16, L-L Championship game.
Friday, Oct. 17, District playoffs begin.
Saturday, Nov. 1, District Championship game.

BOYS SOCCER

Home games played at Field No. 4 (behind East High Elementary) and at Thompson Field.
Preseason:
Monday, Aug. 18, at Hershey (scrimmage), 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 26, vs. Lower Dauphin (scrimmage), 4:15 p.m., field 4.
Regular Season:
Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Garden Spot, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Ephrata, 4 p.m., field 4.
Monday, Sept. 8, vs. Warwick, 7 p.m., Thompson Field.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Cedar Crest, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12, vs. Manheim Township, 4 p.m. field 4.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Solanco, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18, vs. Lebanon, 7 p.m., Thompson Field.
Saturday, Sept. 20, at Conestoga Valley, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Penn Manor, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 25, vs. Hempfield, 7 p.m., Thompson Field.
Monday, Sept. 29, at J.P. McCaskey, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 1, vs. Garden Spot, 4 p.m., field 4.
Saturday, Oct. 4, at Ephrata, 7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 6, vs. Solanco, 4 p.m., field 4
Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Lebanon, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11, vs. Conestoga Valley (Senior/Parent Night), 2:30 p.m., at Elizabethtown College.
Notable Dates:
Tuesday, Oct. 14, League playoffs begin.
Saturday, Oct. 18, L-L Championship game.
Monday, Oct. 20, District playoffs begin.
Saturday, Nov. 1, District Championship game.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
All home matches at Daubert Gymnasium
Preseason:
Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Elco (scrimmage), 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 26, vs. Lower Dauphin (scrimmage), 4 p.m.
Regular Season:
Saturday, Aug. 30, at Lancaster Mennonite Tournament, TBA.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, vs. Garden Spot, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 4, vs. Ephrata, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Lebanon, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 11, at Manheim Central, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13, at Falcon Classic, TBA, Cedar Crest High School.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, vs. Conestoga Valley, 7p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18, at Solanco, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20, at Cedar Cliff Tournament, TBA.
Monday, Sept. 22, vs. Middletown, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Garden Spot, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Ephrata, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 7, vs. Lebanon, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 9, at Conestoga Valley, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, vs. Solanco, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16, vs. Lampeter-Strasburg (Senior/Parent Night), 7 p.m.
Notable Dates:
Tuesday, Oct. 28, District playoffs begin.
Saturday, Nov. 1, District Championship match.

GOLF

All home matches at Sunset Golf Course
Regular Season:
Tuesday, Aug. 19, L-L Match at Crossgates Country Club, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21, home L-L Match, 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 27, L-L Match at Host Country Club, 1 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 4, L-L Match at Overlook Golf Course, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, L-L Match at Fairview Golf Course, 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, L-L Match at Conestoga Country Club, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, L-L Match at Overlook Golf Course, 12:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 29, L-L Tournament at Host Country Club, 9 a.m.
Notable Dates:
Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11, District Three tournament at Briarwood Golf Club, 9 a.m.
Monday, Oct. 13, Regional Tournament at Golden Oaks Golf Club, 9 a.m.

GIRLS TENNIS

All home matches at EAHS Tennis Courts
Preseason:
Monday, Aug. 18, at Pequea Valley (scrimmage), 4 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 22, at Lampeter-Strasburg (scrimmage), 10 a.m.
Regular Season:
Tuesday, Aug. 26, vs. Donegal, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 28, vs. Columbia, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, vs. Penn Manor, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 4, at Hempfield, 4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5, vs. Warwick, 4 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 8, at Manheim Township, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, vs. Conestoga Valley, 4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12, at Cedar Crest, 4 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 15, at Ephrata, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18, at Garden Spot, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, vs. Solanco, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 25, vs. J.P. McCaskey (Senior/Parent Night), 4 p.m.
Notable Dates:
Oct. 2-6, L-L Flight Tournament.
Oct. 10, District Team Tournament.
Oct 11 and 13, District Singles Tournament.
Oct. 14 and 18, District Doubles Tournament.

Cross Country

All home meets run at E-town course, starting behind Thompson Field.
Note: Dates, locations and times are for both boys and girls teams.
Preseason:
Friday, Aug. 22, Tri-Meet Scrimmage at Lower Dauphin, 3 p.m.
Regular Season:
Friday, Aug. 29, at Hershey, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, L-L Meet at Penn Manor, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6, Cross Country Relay Meet at Manor Middle School, 8:45 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, L-L Meet at South Hills Park, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, home L-L Meet, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, L-L Meet at Donegal High, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27, Carlisle Cross Country Invitational, 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, L-L Meet at Warwick High, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 7, L-L Meet at Hempfield High, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, L-L Run at Ephrata War Memorial Field, 5 p.m.
Notable Date:
Saturday, Oct. 25, District Three Meet.

There you have it. Check back soon for previews on each of these teams in the coming weeks.