Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart

Congratulations to Paige Schultz and Emily Litwin who were named to the First Team All-Catholics of the North Division and to Robyn Stanley who was named to the Second Team All-Catholics of the North Division.

SHA finished the season with a 16 - 6 overall record (having started the season 1 - 3) with four of the 6 losses to St. Mary's of Lancaster, the eventual State Champions. SHA loses six seniors who finish their high school career with two consecutive appearances in the State Semi-Finals and an appearance in the Championship Match of the League.

SHA advanced to the Monsignor Martin Championship Match for the first time since 2002. The Lady Sharks faced the Lancers of St. Mary's of Lancaster on Monday evening, November 3, who won their fourth consecutive title in their own gym. The packed house saw the Lancers defeat SHA in 3 games: 14-25, 15-25, 20-25. Robyn Stanley had 5 kills and 2 blocks, Sarah Pawlak had 4 kills, Michelle Nowacki had 5 kills and 1 block, Paige Schultz had 12 assists, and Rachel Litwin had 6 service points. Coach Ron Stepien commented afterwards: "We could never really establish our game. We had some runs in the match, but could not get enough of them. They run a quick offense, and we just seemed to always be a step behind."

Despite the loss, Sacred Heart's 2nd place finish in the league still got them a bid to the NYSCHSAA (New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association) Championships which were held on Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9, at St Mary's of Lancaster. The 8-team tournament (with 5 teams from downstate) opened with pool play. SHA started pool play with a split against Mary Louis (Brooklyn/Queens) 25 - 14, 16 - 25. Robyn Stanley had 7 kills and 4 blocks, Sarah Pawlak had 4 blocks and 3 kills, Heidi Widmer had 4 kills and 2 blocks, Paige Schultz had 10 assists and 6 service points while Sam Boron had 6 assists and 3 blocks. SHA then played St. Anthony's (Rockville) losing 16 - 25, 23 - 25. Robyn Stanley had 4 kills, Michelle Nowacki had 7 kills, Paige Schultz. had 9 assists, and Alex Femia had 8 service points. To finish pool play the Lady Sharks played Bishop Kearney and needed to win both games to force a one game playoff against Mary Louis in order to make the Semi-Finals. SHA was successful in defeating Bishop Kearney by identical game scores of 25 - 19 and 25 - 19. Robyn Stanley had 10 kills and 3 blocks, Michelle Nowacki had 5 kills, Caitlyn Colucci had 6 service points, and Paige Schultz had 18 assists. SHA then played Mary Louis in the best game of the day and defeated them 15 - 5. Michelle Nowacki had 4 kills and 3 service points, Jessica Sainz had 4 kills, Paige Schultz had 7 assists, and Rachel Litwin had 6 service points.

SHA ended up finishing in 2nd Place in Pool Play on Saturday and earned the right to play in the Semi-Finals of the State Championship on Sunday. Unfortunately SHA's opponent was St. Mary's of Lancaster who had beaten the Sharks all season and who ended up becoming the State Champions. SHA lost to St. Mary's 19 - 25, 23 - 25, 18 - 25, but played much better than Monday's MMA championship match. Coach Ron Stepien said "a few bad rotations cost us in the end." Robyn Stanley had 4 kills and 5 blocks, Sarah Pawlak had 10 kills, and Paige Schultz had 22 assists. Sam Boron had 3 blocks. Emily and Rachel Litwin along with Alex Femia contributed a strong game on defense.

SHA's Varsity Volleyball Squad defeated Mt. St. Mary on Friday, October 31, in four close games: 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, and 25-21. Robyn Stanley had 8 kills and 1 block, Sarah Pawlak had 11 kills and 4 blocks, Michelle Nowacki had 13 kills and 11 service points with 2 aces, Sam Boron had 32 assists and 3 blocks, and Rachel Litwin had 15 service points. The turning point of the match was the third game. SHA took a 13-6 lead only to see Mt. St. Mary go on a 14-3 run to take a 20-16 lead. Sarah Pawlak then had 2 kills and two key blocks that helped SHA back to win 25-23. Emily and Rachel Litwin along with Michelle Nowacki and Alex Femia gave great defensive support in SHA's victory.

Sacred Heart won their Quarter Finals Playoff Match against Nichols on Tuesday, October 28: 25-10, 25-13, 25-20 while three starters sat out injured. SHA was able to play a well rounded game with Robyn Stanley having 7 kills and 3 blocks, Sarah Pawlak having 4 kills, Michelle Nowacki having 8 kills, and Jessica Sainz having 7 kills. Samantha Boron had 21 assists while Caitlyn Colucci had 21 service points with 9 aces and Emily Litwin had 15 service points with 8 aces. Rachel Litwin also contributed great defense to the win. SHA only missed 3 serves the entire match.

The Sharks' overall record is 12-4 with 3-0 victories over North Tonawanda HS, Nardin (twice), Mt. Mercy, Holy Angels, Cardinal O'Hara, Niagara Catholic, Nichols, and Immaculata, a 3-1 non-league victory over Cheektowaga (ranked #10 in Large School Poll) and 3-1 victories over Immaculata and Mt. St. Mary with losses to Kenmore West (1-3), Mt. St. Mary (2-3), and St. Mary's Lancaster (0-3) and (1-3). SHA was 10-3 in league play and finished in second place in the MMAA.

SHA is ranked #4 in the Small Schools Poll.

SHA played their final home volleyball match on October 20 and came up with an impressive victory over Nardin in 3 games: 25-12, 25-20, and 25-16. Emily Litwin had 10 service point while Paige Schultz had 17 assists and three kills. Sam Boron had 6 assists, 2 kills and a block; Robyn Stanley had 5 kills and 5 blocks; Sarah Pawlak had 7 kills and 1 block.

Over the October 18th-19th weekend SHA won the Silver Division of the North Tonawanda Tournament. In Pool Play the Lady Sharks lost to Lake Shore 24-26 and 20-25. Paige Schultz had 13 assists and 5 service points, Sarah Pawlak had 6 kills, and Robyn Stanley had 6 kills and 3 blocks. Then SHA beat Niagara Wheatfield 25-17 and 25-17. Michelle Nowacki had 5 kills, Emily Litwin had 2 aces and 4 service points, Katie Mekelburg had one ace and 4 service points, and Jessica Sainz had 2 kills. Next SHA lost to Orchard Park 18-25 and 17-25. Caitlin Colucci had 3 kills and Sam Boron had 2 kills and 2 blocks. SHA moved on to the Semis of the Silver Division and defeated Grand Island by a score of 30-18. Robyn Stanley had 3 blocks ad 4 kills, Michelle Nowacki had 4 kills, and Sam Boron had 10 assists. SHA then met North Tonawanda for the Championship of the Silver Division and persevered in a very close contest winning 25-23 and 26-24. Alex Femia had 8 service points, Sam Boron had 7 assists and 2 kills, and Robyn Stanley had 4 kills. Rachel Litwin contributed a strong game defensively along with Alex Femia and Emily Litwin.

SHA defeated Immaculata on October 14 in three games with identical scores of 25-22. Paige Schultz had 23 assists; Michelle Nowacki had 10 service points, 1 block, and 8 kills; Sarah Pawlak had 7 kills while Robyn Stanley had 6 kills. Once again Emily Litwin, Alex Femia, and Rachel Litwin played great defense to help lead the SHA attack.

While SHA's Varsity Volleyball Team's 9 consecutive match winning streak was snapped by St. Mary's Lancaster on October 9, Sacred Heart was the first team to take a game from St. Mary's Lancaster in their home gym in 4 years. SML took the first game 25-11, but the Sharks came on strong in the second game for an upset victory 25-20. SML regrouped and managed to hold off SHA in the final 2 games: 25-18 and 25-14.

SHA evened the score on October 6 by besting Mt. St. Mary in their second meeting. Mt. St. Mary had been the victor on September 10. SHA and Mt. St. Mary are tied for 2nd place in the Monsignor Martin Association League.

SHA dominated Nichols on October 3 with match scores of 25-9, 25-7, and 25-14. Paige Schultz had an overall strong game with 25 assists, 8 aces, and 15 service points. Emily Litwin had 12 service points and 3 aces while Robyn Stanley had 9 kills and 4 blocks.

On October 1 SHA's Varsity squad handily defeated Niagara Catholic 25-5, 25-11, and 25-7. Sarah Pawlak, Michelle Nowacki, and Caitlyn Colucci all had 4 kills each. Rachel Litwin had 8 aces and 19 service points while Katie Mekelburg had 5 aces and 7 service points.

Immaculata, ranked #10 in small school poll of Western NY, forced a fourth game and pushed SHA to play their best as the Sharks won by scores of 25-16, 25-18, 22-25, and 25-21 on September 30. Michelle Nowacki had 13 kills and 6 blocks, Sarah Pawlak had 7 kills, and Paige Schultz had 23 assists.

Outstanding SHA players in the Holy Angels match (September 22) were Sarah Pawlak with 6 kills in 9 attacks, Emily Litwin with 12 aces, and Paige Schultz with 11 assists. Katie Mekelburg, Caitlyn Colucci, and Rachel Litwin all contributed great defense during the match which SHA won handily: 25-11, 25-13, and 25-14.

Rachel Litwin had 8 aces, Katie Mekelburg had 5 aces, Heidi Widmer contributed 7 kills in 9 attacks, and Sam Boron contributed 2 kills and 6 assists in the lopsided O'Hara match on September 24 which SHA won handily: 25-12, 25-10, and 25-6.

Friday's (September 26) nonleague match against #10 ranked Cheektowaga showed how good SHA is becoming. They defeated Cheektowaga HS in 4 games: 25-14, 25-15, 23-25, and 25-21. Kudos go to Robyn Stanley who had 10 kills and 3 blocks, to Paige Schultz with her 23 assists, to Michelle Nowacki with her 6 kills, and to Heidi Widmer's 5 kills.

In the Sweet Home Tournament on September 20 SHA was perfect in pool play with a 6-0 run, and they finished with 2nd seed overall. SHA's Varsity squad defeated North Tonawanda in the quarterfinals but then lost to Frontier in the semis.

In the St. Mary's Lancaster Tournament SHA lost in the semis to St. Mary's after finishing 3rd in pool play. In the Frontier Tournament SHA finished first in their pool but then lost to St. Mary's Lancaster in the quarterfinals.

SHA'S VARSITY TEAM

SHA'S JV TEAM finished the season in 2nd Place with a 12-4 record.

Complete JV and Varsity Volleyball Schedule for 2008

JV Volleyball Roster

Varsity Volleyball Roster