Signature wins: Haverford (17-12, 7-3 Centennial) qualified for the postseason for the 16th time in 17 seasons under first year head coach Drew Hargrave. The Fords finished the season with seven consecutive conference wins after dropping the first three to open Centennial play.
With classes on recess for fall break, Haverford took to Allentown, Pa. for a matchup with a highly touted Muhlenberg team. The Fords prevailed in four sets, 3-1, as Zoe Wong set a new career-high in assists and Kaylynn Mayo hit .636 with seven kills on just 11 swings in the triumph.
The Fords clinched a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over Washington College on the road in Chestertown in late October, as Valentine Courouble pitched in 19 kills as Haverford rallied after dropping an early set. The Fords earned a first-round bye into the Centennial Conference semifinals in Baltimore by virtue of a thrilling five-set victory over Hood Trophy rival Swarthmore on October 29. Courouble broke out for a career-best 29 kills as the Fords earned a rematch with the Garnet, who had lost just one conference game, to eventual champion Johns Hopkins, prior to the home defeat.
Awards:
- All-Centennial Conference: Valentine Courouble (first team), Zoe Wong (first team)
- Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll: Maddie Becker, Valentine Courouble, Abby Keller, Kaylynn Mayo, Natalie Pisch, Zoe Wong
- Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Sara Matsumura
- Centennial Conference Player of the Week: Valentine Courouble (10/17)
Season Notes:
Haverford finished with at least 15 wins for the fifth straight season … The Fords have qualified for the postseason in 16 of the last 17 campaigns … … Wong (9.26 assists per set) and Courouble (3.95 kills per set) formed a powerful duo that topped the Centennial in each category … Courouble's kills per set mark was the seventh best single-season mark in program history … After dropping six of seven and five straight to end a sluggish September, the Fords posted an 11-3 mark, including an unblemished conference slate in the month of October.
Looking forward:
After yet another Centennial Conference tournament trip, The Fords must replace starters co-captain Valentine Courouble and Kaylynn Mayo as well as Elena Garcia and co-captain Abby Keller. Haverford will return All-Centennial setter Zoe Wong as well as freshman Julia Gallagher-Teske, who finished near the top of the Centennial Conference in blocks and blocks per set. Wong will look to anchor a young team from the setter spot while outside hitter Natalie Pisch and libero Maddie Becker are other key returning veterans. Freshmen Sara Matsumura and Hailey O'Mara figure to see an even larger role after contributing immediately in their debut seasons. The Fords will hope to build off success with a young group and make a run at an NCAA appearance next season.