Holy Name Ends Season as District Runner Up

The Holy Name Green Wave pose with the District Runner Up Trophy

For the first time since 2007, the Holy Name Green Wave volleyball team has ended the season with a district runner-up trophy and silver medals. The Namers road to the district finals included playoff victories against Bay Village and Revere, before it ultimately ended against Padua.

The Holy Name Green Wave were led this season by seniors Emily Lachowski, Victoria Atkins, Katie Dosen, and Taylor Verba. Three of the seniors have been four-year varsity players for Holy Name. For 3-time NCL Coach of the Year, Jenny Phillips, this is her first district medal after taking over the volleyball program in 2009.

Rivals Clash in District Finals

The district finals for 2013 featured an familiar matchup on Thursday evening. Arch rivals Padua Franciscan (#1) faced off against Holy Name (#3) for a third time this season. The Namers put up a valiant effort, but the night belonged largely to Padua. The Bruins entered the game with high expectations, and a handful of seniors with plans to play in college. They proved to have too much firepower for the Green Wave and won in three sets.

Holy Name, visiting the District Finals for the first time since 2007, competed heavily and were led by Senior captain, Emily Lachowski (13 kills.) Senior captain Taylor Verba set an intense game as well delivering one of her best performances of the season. Coach Jenny Phillips said of Padua, "They are a solid team. We knew in order to compete we'd have to play point for point with them. We gave it everything we had, and I'm sure that's a team that will be very competitive at Regionals." Holy Name received medals and a trophy as District Runners up after the game.

Holy Name Advances to District Finals

For the first time since 2007, the Holy Name Green Wave have advanced to the district finals where they'll face arch rival Padua Franciscan High School. 

The Namers defeated #2 seeded Richfield Revere on October 22nd, during the district semi finals. Led by an aggressive performance by sophomore Maddie Adams, the Green Wave made short work of Revere en route to a four set victory. 

The Namers play Padua on October 24, 2013 at Holy Name in Parma Heights, Ohio at 7:00pm.

Holy Name Advances to District Semi-Finals

The Holy Name Volleyball team defeated Bay Village in three sets on Wednesday night (October 16, 2013) advancing with command past the district quarterfinals. The Green Wave took a strong lead in the first set, but allowed Bay some momentum at the end, which despite the HN victory, carried the Rockets into the early segment of set 2. Trailing 5-0, Holy Name Coach Jenny Phillips called a timeout, and the Namers took control of the set and finished out the set inspired and with great control. Sets two and three resulted in large margins and a smooth and confident victory for the Holy Name Green Wave.

Holy Name will face Revere in the District semi-finals on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at Holy Name High School. See you there!

Jenny Phillips Wins 3rd Straight "Coach of the Year" Award

Holy Name Volleyball head coach, Jenny Phillips was chosen as the "Coach of the Year" for the NCL White Division over the weekend. Phillips, most notably recognized for three straight undefeated season in her division, has likewise earned this honor in three consecutive years. Phillips said, "I'm happy to receive such a distinction, and being chosen three years in a row is great."

Phillips acknowledges that her, "Coaching staff is amazing. Megan, Deena, Rachel, and Emily have been a great asset all season and the girls really look up to them. The coaches are very knowledgeable about fundamentals, special skills, and most are drawing from collegiate experience to really help the girls grow not only at the high school level, but into college as well." Last year, Holy Name sent three graduating seniors into college volleyball programs.

It hasn't been an easy road to recognition for Phillips (5th season), who was promoted to head coach at Holy Name (after 4 seasons as freshman head coach) in 2009 when the entire coaching staff resigned, and eleven seniors graduated from the season prior leaving her with only one returning varsity player and no returning coaches. She acknowledged, "There are some coaches in our division now that have more recently gone through what I dealt with a few years back. I know they're great coaches and are helping improve the quality of competition in our division."

Along with Coach Phillips winning the Coach of the Year for the NCL White Division, she was proud to win on the same day that Lake Catholic head coach, Rich Severino, won the same award for the NCL Blue Division. "Coach Severino has worked hard to make sure his team competes strong in a division that includes Padua, Beaumont, and other very competitive programs," Phillips said.  "It's humbling," to be receiving this award along with Severino for their conferences.

The Holy Name Green Wave Volleyball team begins their 2013 playoff run on Wednesday, October 16th, at Holy Name High School's, Kenneally Gymnasium. The District Playoffs are being hosted at Holy Name for the second consecutive year, and Coach Phillips encourages fans to get their and get loud to help us with our home-court advantage!

Holy Name #3 Prepares for Playoffs

The Undefeated NCL White Division Champions are getting ready for the playoffs, being hosted at Holy Name High School in Parma, Ohio. The Green Wave earned a first round bye week, and will play the winner of Monday night's matchup between a streaking Bay Village team and Firelands (Oberlin.)

Holy Name will practice this week and is looking forward to their second round district matchup on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. Gametime is set for 7:30pm and all fans are encouraged to arrive early and give the Green Wave the home court advantage they deserve for this tournament!

Green Wave Sweep the NCL White Division for 3rd Consecutive Season!

Congratulations to the Holy Name Green Wave Volleyball team and their third consecutive NCL White Division Championship! The girls fended off Trinity in four sets to cling to their third undefeated divisional championship this week, and are looking forward to ending their season against Padua at home on October 10th, 2013. Coach Jenny Phillips was proud of her team saying, "We made it our goal early in the year to win our division outright, and that was an important part of our vision for what would make a successful season."