I think that’s what hurt us in that game. “I have a tendency to overthink things and that’s what got to me, the metal aspect of the game. “That game got into my head a little bit,” Herestofa said. Her mental toughness is another one of her many qualities, but even she admits that she came a little unglued in Garnet Valley’s 3-0 loss to Council Rock North in the District 1 quarterfinals. “She brought tremendous energy and everyone fed off of that,” Clark said. “I get a little wild on the court sometimes,” Herestofa said. On a team with nine seniors, she was a vocal leader who was not afraid to speak her mind. Herestofa’s value to the team, though, went way beyond numbers. After I passed it, I knew who Gabby was going to set it to and I knew Erin was going to put it down.” I could tell we were going to get that last point. “I was so lucky to be involved in that last play,” Herestofa said.

Herestofa finished the season with 458 digs. She had 42 digs in the championship match and 111 in the state tournament, including the final dig that led to the championship-clinching point by teammate Erin Patterson. Herestofa, who is headed to Susquehanna University with Davis and Portale, was the leader of that defense.

The Jaguars averaged an astounding 81 digs in their four state tournament matches, including 116 in the five-set marathon victory over Parkland in the final. The Jaguars (24-3) racked up 1,339 digs with 575 coming in the postseason, which included the Central League championship and District 1 and PIAA 4A tournaments. Garnet Valley’s defense during its run to the state title, especially in the playoffs, was nothing short of amazing. Balta is a three-time All-Delco and Wright earned all-county honors for the second straight year. Joining Herestofa on the All-Delco team, which was selected by the Daily Times sports staff after consultation with county coaches, are teammates Gabby Davis and Sydney Portale, Hannah Wright and Mary Kate Painter from Archbishop Carroll, Kristen “Kiki” Daly of Cardinal O’Hara and Penncrest’s Diana Balta.īalta and Wright are the only repeat selections. It also helped Herestofa earn Player of the Year honors from the Daily Times. Herestofa’s dominating play on defense enabled the Jaguars to make history as the first girls volleyball team in Delaware County history to win a PIAA championship when the Jaguars upset two-time defending champion Parkland last month to win the Class 4A title. Herestofa found a home as a libero - or defensive specialist - and Garnet Valley coach Mark Clark is glad she did. So is quickness, intelligence and the ability to dig balls out. Passing is one of the skills needed to be a libero. “I was a little unsure of how it was going to turn out for me and then I got into passing and I fell in love with it. “I hadn’t found out what I wanted to be, what I was best at in middle school,” Herestofa said. Suddenly, Herestofa was not so sure that volleyball was the sport for her. “It didn’t work out,” Herestofa recalled. Since her sister, who is her senior by nine years, was a setter, Lizzie figured she would be a setter, too.

That’s how she was introduced to the sport.īy the time she was in middle school, Lizzie Herestofa was taking the game more seriously. Garnet Valley’s Liz Herestofa is the 2016 All-Delco Player of the Year after leading the Jaguars to the state championship.įind a ball and go off and pass the ball to herself or against the wall.

Wild teens playing volley balley