The Parkland girls volleyball 2019 season came to an end just two wins shy of a state championship for the second straight year. But this season also saw the Trojans experience a ton of success and it will go down as one of the best seasons in program history.

After completing the regular season near the middle of the pack in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, Parkland stormed through the postseason, winning both the East Penn Conference and District 11 4A championships. It was the sixth consecutive district title for the Trojans.

“This has been a most rewarding reflection on what this team accomplished,” said head coach Mike Krause. “We knew the seedings of the tournaments did not reflect on who we have become by the postseason tournament. The entire staff had a belief in these athletes and were very excited to get started in the post season competitions.

“We learned what these athletes were capable of achieving. We put them in positions in practice where they could attain success, and then supported them in competition. The staff did a wonderful job and proudly smiled as the team accepted their championship medals and trophies.”

The Trojans finished the regular season 19-6 overall and 11-5 in the EPC. They fell to perennial state power and state runner-up for the second straight year Bishop Shanahan in the state semifinals.

“This team loved each other,” Krause said. “They wanted to give everything they had in each competition. They learned what they could do consistently and learned areas they could improve upon. They loved coming to the gym and became contributors in every area of need. They had a team motto to play every point to the best of their ability and the match isn’t over until the final whistle.”

Parkland will graduate three seniors including Cat Farole, Amber Resendez and Lauren Ceh.

“Leadership would be the key,” said Krause about what his seniors brought to the team this year. “We started our season at 2-3 in the league. That is the first time we have started with a losing record in our first five matches of the season. The seniors kept coming to the gym to get better every day. They modeled the work ethic required to continue to develop this team. They kept everyone together and demonstrated a belief to continue to work heard and learn.

“The younger players followed their lead. The seniors treated the younger players as peers and accepted them as volleyball players. Everyone expected to do their best, with the support from the ‘elders.’”

Parkland will have a strong group of returners back and will once again be looked at as a contender in the league, district and state, once again in 2020.