Most coaches have to deal with injuries and sickness, but it usually doesn't happen all at the same time.

Knoch High School girls' volleyball coach Diane Geist has been dealing with an outbreak of mononucleosis during the first two weeks of practice.

"We have five girls who have been diagnosed with mono, and one other who is showing signs," said Geist. "This is my 22nd year [as a coach] and I've never had anything like this before."

Geist feels the mono outbreak occurred when 19 members of her squad attended a summer team camp at California University of Pennsylvania last month.

"We have 32 girls on the team, including 13 freshmen," said Geist. "We didn't take the freshmen to summer camp, and none of them have been affected. The only girls who got sick were at camp.

"My guess is that they drank from the same water bottle or glass. We always take precautions during the season to make sure this doesn't happen. Each girl has her own water bottle to drink from during a match. They must have been careless at camp."

Ashlee Antoszyk and Sara Montgomery, a pair of returning starters, are two of the five confirmed cases. Antoszyk is a 5-foot-9 senior middle hitter who has started the past two years. Montgomery is a 5-11 junior middle hitter who started last year. The other three are junior varsity players.

"Ashlee hasn't been to a full practice yet," said Geist. "Sara was sick during the first week, but tried to play through it. Last week, she couldn't even make it through a day of school."

Making the situation even more frustrating is that Geist could have another case on her hands. Zoe Hughes, a 5-8 senior who can play middle and outside hitter, is starting to show signs.

"Zoe hasn't been feeling good for a while, but hasn't missed any practices." said Geist. "She hasn't gone to the doctor yet, but that will change if she doesn't get better."

And just when Geist thought it couldn't get any worse ...

"Our senior setter, who has been starting since her freshman year, suffered a broken foot in practice," said Geist, referring to Kirsten Brant. "I've had injuries and dealt with cases of mono before, but never to this extent. And not all at once."

Geist has lead Knoch to seven consecutive WPIAL Class AA playoff appearances. She was expecting big things from this squad, as all but one starter is back.

"Our goals are to win the section title, go undefeated in section play and qualify for the PIAA playoffs," said Geist. "We're not changing those goals. We just have to use what we have and work really hard. Hopefully, we can get everybody healthy soon."

Brant will wear a cast for four weeks. She has been replaced by Liz Ogershok, a 5-5 senior who started at libero last year.

"Liz has been our backup setter," said Geist. "Setting is not her favorite thing, but she's doing it for the team."

With Antoszyk and Montgomery sidelined with mono, Geist has called upon junior Paige Macadaeg and freshman Tori Lark to fill in at middle hitter. Both are 5-9.

Rounding out the starting rotation are 5-6 senior right-side hitter Ashley Neurohr and 5-5 senior defensive specialist Michelle Steinmiller.

"We have a very large senior class," said Geist, who has 12 seniors on her squad. "And we only have three juniors."

Other seniors who will see playing time are outside hitter Chelsea Yurisic, right-side hitter Danae Karenbauer and defensive specialists Missy Walter, Jasmine Ortiz, and Keisha Michael.

Knoch opened its season yesterday at the seven-team Butler Tournament.

The Knights begin play in Section 2-AA Thursday against Freedom Area.