Brynn Casmay called it determination.
Haley Plunkett recalled the long hours of practice in the gym.
Maddy Harada said it was the team’s ability to give a little bit more on the court.
The three seniors on the Paul VI High School girls volleyball team described the same attribute in three different ways. Each key player painted a picture of hard work for a highly motivated team that had experienced heartbreak on their home court in the South Jersey Non-Public A championship game the last two years.
The third time provided a different result and a new trophy thanks to a 3-0 victory over defending state champ St. John Vianney on Thursday, Nov. 12. Paul VI, the top seed in the bracket this year, once again held home court advantage and had a date with the team that knocked them out a year ago in shocking fashion.
“After last year, for me personally, it really lit a fire under me,” Casmay said. “November 16 when [St. John Vianney] won, I was like I can’t wait to get back next year and see them again. When I found out that we were playing them again, I was so pumped. I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited.”
It showed.
With Harada on the service line to open the match, the Eagles took the first seven points and received 18 kills from junior Khloe Greene-Gordon in a dominant 25-19, 25-18, 25-15 series to win the South Jersey Non-Public championship in front of a spirited home crowd and student section.
The preparation started in the preseason with a few conversations about previous early exits, especially after carrying an undefeated record into the sectional final a year ago.
“Last year, we started to let up a little bit at the end,” said Harada, who had 10 digs. “Some of us played a little shy.”
With a pumped up confidence this year, the players bought in. The coaches did, too.
“I feel like coach Dan [Chung] really pushes us to our limits,” Harada said. “He really helps us to give everything.”
Chung implied that the door swings both ways. He asked his seniors what the expectations were for the season and got the response he was hoping to hear.
“I think they understood that talent is one thing and there’s how to work hard,” said Chung, who guided the Eagles to four straight sectional titles and one state championship. “I asked the seniors this year what they wanted this season to be. Do they just want to go through it? Or do you want to go back and do more than what we did last year? They realized really fast that they wanted to work. That is something they were committed to.”
It began with a few intense and lengthy practices in the gym.
“I think we really rely on each other to pick each other up,” said Plunkett, who supplied six kills and six digs in the sectional final. “Especially the older girls. People look to us sometimes, and it’s great to have that role and help people get through those moments.”
Paul VI began the season with 11 straight wins and darted up the state rankings, before its first loss to Ocean City in a five-set marathon. The Eagles also lost to Ursuline Academy (Delaware) and Immaculate Heart Academy, who they will see in the state championship game at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Franklin High School. Paul VI is 21-3 heading into their final match of the season.
“We had little ups and downs, but if we went down, we knew we needed to get right back up,” Casmay said. “We keep saying pressure is a privilege. We had a lot of pressure as we were ranked No. 1 [in the state] for a week or two. Every game was a learning moment and one step closer to the goal.”
The Eagles first volleyball sectional championship since 2023 felt pretty good, especially beating the teams that ended their last two seasons along the way – Notre Dame and St. John Vianney.
“It feels so amazing to be part of this program and come back after last year,” Plunkett said. “Everybody worked so hard. I’m just so proud and happy that we were able to accomplish this.”
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