Before Labor Day, Mount St. Joseph Academy got off to a 3-0 start in volleyball, including a 3-2 win over a well-regarded Downingtown East team. The Magic found rough going in their first outing after the holiday, though. On Sept. 9, host Mount St. Joe lost 0-3 to a familiar opponent, Lansdale Catholic High School.

The Crusaders started on a roll right from the beginning, putting away the first set at 25-14. The Mounties put up more resistance in the next two sets, but visiting LC won them both by 25-16 scores.

The Mount’s coaching staff is well established. Head Coach Amy Bergin is now in her 10th season with the Magic, and assistants Jerry Abdalla, Suzie Bergin and John McKnight have all been with the program for some time. Abdalla has two daughters who both played at Mount St. Joseph.

At the start of the 2026 campaign, the Magic are adjusting to the loss of eight players who graduated from the 2025 roster.

Taking the floor for the Magic for the start of the match were seniors Lizzie Buckley (setter), Audrey DiSiro (libero/defensive specialist), J.J. Miros (middle hitter) Hayden Smith (outside hitter/right side) and juniors Daphne Doyle (outside hitter/right side) and Jill Gordon (defensive specialist).

DiSiro and Miros are the team captains for 2026.

Rotating onto the floor were another senior libero/defensive specialist, Maddie Moeller, along with fellow 12th graders Sarah Cuozzo (setter) and Erin Reilly (defensive specialist).

Rounding out the senior class is Lauren Olimpo (middle hitter/right side); the other juniors are Maura McIlhenny (outside hitter), Ann Baker (defensive specialist) and Angelina Szostek (outside hitter/right side). There aren’t any sophomores on the varsity roster at present, but three freshmen have made it: Macie Haley (middle hitter), Hannah Halligan (setter/right side) and Runor Ogagarue (outside hitter/right side).

One of the visiting Crusaders, Greta Swope, had started high school playing at the Mount before transferring to Lansdale Catholic.

LC reeled off the first five points of the opening set, and the Magic never really regained their footing, succumbing 25-14.

With DiSiro serving, the Mount secured the first two points of the second set, but Lansdale quickly caught up and held a 12-10 edge near the middle of the set. The Crusaders pulled away with an 8-2 run that was briefly interrupted by a Mount St. Joe time-out.

Kills by Doyle and Miros helped prolong the session, but the visitors eventually closed it out at 25-16.

With the Mount only trailing 2-3 in the third set, LC began to separate with a five-point run. The Magic gained a little ground and then pulled within four points of the leaders (7-11) when McIlhenny served a ball that sank quickly as soon as it went over the net. The Crusaders responded with another 5-0 surge, and countered some strong MSJ hits with impressive digs and saves.

Miros helped keep the home team’s hopes alive by scoring on two hits and a tip, and Doyle recorded another kill. In the end, though, LC would not be denied, capturing a 25-16 win to come away with a straight-sets victory.

For the early home matches of the 2026 season, the Magic are still playing in the old school gym, but before long they will move into the Mount’s new athletics building.