The Franklin Regional High School girls' volleyball team has made one WPIAL playoff appearance in the past 10 years.

First-year coach Matthew Heyman has changed that trend.

"I walked into a great situation," Heyman said. "I have a great group of kids who want to win and are willing to put in the hard work required to be a winner."

The Panthers (6-5 in section play) have clinched a WPIAL playoff berth and had a one-game lead for third place in Section 1-AAA ahead of Norwin going into last night's matches.

Heyman and his wife moved to Irwin after coaching four years in Virginia.

"I was the JV coach at Woodbridge High School for one season, then the head coach at Stonewall Jackson High School the last three years," Heyman said. "We decided to move to Pennsylvania in December. My wife is from this area, so she has lots of family here.

"My wife found a full-time teaching position in the Hempfield Area School District. I'm working as a sub at Franklin Regional and Hempfield with hopes of getting a full-time position in the future."

Heyman, who is originally from New Jersey, graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in health and physical education.

"I didn't play volleyball in high school or college," he said. "I played rugby in college for the Pittsburgh Harlequins."

When Heyman and his wife decided to move back to Pennsylvania, he figured coaching would give him a better chance of landing a full-time teaching position.

"I was interviewed at Franklin Regional and Ringgold and was offered a head coaching position at both schools," Heyman said. "I picked Franklin Regional because it was closer to Irwin. I'm very happy with the choice I made."

Heyman has found a few differences in the way volleyball is played in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

"The athletes were better conditioned in Virginia, but the girls in Pennsylvania are fundamentally stronger," Heyman said.

"The girls at Franklin Regional are strong at serve-receive, but not as strong serving. It was the opposite in Virginia."

Injuries to top players Emily Nemsick and Haley Young have slowed Franklin Regional's progress. Nemsick, who has patella tendonitis, is a 5-foot-8 senior setter who also serves as captain. Young, who has a torn meniscus, is a 5-9 junior outside hitter. Both are trying to play through their injuries.

"Emily runs our offense very well. She averages eight assists per game," Heyman said. "Haley leads the team with more than 100 kills."

Heyman uses 10 players in his starting rotation. Nemsick is one of six seniors. The others are 5-6 outside hitter Meredith Wilmer, 5-10 middle hitter Abbie Ferry, 5-9 middle hitter Taylor Farina, 5-9 right-side hitter Caitlin Kent and 5-5 libero Katie Bruce.

"Meredith leads the team in digs and passing percentage and is second in kills. She's a strong all-round player," Heyman said. "Abbie is our other captain. She leads the team in blocks and hitting percentage. Taylor is our serving specialist."

Young is one of four juniors in the starting rotation. The others are 5-11 middle hitter Julia Hunnell, 5-6 back-row specialist Lauren Popko and 5-9 back-row specialist Kelsey Casper.

"Julia has missed a lot of time with various injuries," Heyman said.

Franklin Regional's most noteworthy victory of the season came against Penn-Trafford.

"Penn-Trafford won the first two games, and we came back to win the last three," Heyman said. "We also should have beaten them in the first half [of section play]."

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