An improved season and a trip to the state quarterfinals helped State College put three girls on the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association All-State team.
Juniors Emma Weakland and Suzanne Horner and sophomore Taylor Leath each were named to the 50-member Class AAA team announced this week. The Class A and AA teams have not yet been announced.
“It’s a great honor and I’m really proud and blessed to be on that list with my teammates, ” Weakland said. “Fifty girls sounds like a lot of girls, but when you think of all the girls that play volleyball, it really makes you think about how selective they were and we’re honored
to be there.”
“We all work hard in practice and we’re there to help each other get better and to push each other,” Horner said. “To have three players on that team, it shows how good our team is and how we work hard in practice and all that.”
The Lady Little Lions, after being denied the last few years, finally ousted Altoona in the District 6 title match, dropped Penn Manor in the PIAA first round and then posted a 1-2 record during quarterfinal pool play at the tournament.
“It shows that State College volleyball is really doing well right now,” Leath said. “We’re really getting in there more than we have
before. Especially with districts, we’re really getting out more than we have in the past couple years and we’re really just growing.”
Horner directed the offense as a starting setter for the third season, handing out 725 assists to accompany a team-high 128 blocks, 178 digs, 68 kills and 54 aces.
“You put a lot of hard work in practices and playing your sport and being good at it,” Horner said, “and to be honored and recognized for that is really great.”
Horner’s go-to girls were Weakland and Leath on the outside as both proved to be huge offensive threats.
“Other coaches think the same about Emma and Taylor being very dynamic players — big kids that hit the ball hard,” said head coach Chad Weight, whose team finished sixth in the PVCA Class AAA rankings. “All around they’re really good players. Fans look at the big swings and coaches look at what else can these kids do?”
Weakland put down a team-high 273 kills this season, connecting on a .312 hitting percentage, tied for the team lead with 179 digs and added 45 blocks.
Leath was second on the team with 247 kills, collecting a large portion of them late in the season on the run to PIAAs. She also was third on the team with 31 aces and 109 blocks and contributed 152 digs.
Both are excited about the prospect of returning to the state tournament and bringing a trophy back to State College.
“Everyone really expects to get there again,” Leath said. “Once you get there it’s always a goal to get there and get further. Everyone is really feeling like we’re on the hunt to get into that state final match and win states.”
“We did not want to end the season as soon as we did,” Weakland said. “We have another chance to win states next year and we’re very excited to try again.”
All three have already begun work with their club programs. Weakland and Horner are with the Revolution club in town, while Leath, along with her senior sister Randi, have joined the Synergy club in King of Prussia with travel around the country planned in the next few months.
Then, they will be ready for another shot with the Lady Little Lions.
“We have a strong base to go off for next year and a lot of strong kids that are young in the program,” Horner said. “Next year we’re still going to be here and we’ll have a good team and be able to compete at a high level.”
