“A Season Built on Heart: Dallas Lady Mountaineers Earn Historic PIAA Sportsmanship Award”

A Season Built on Heart — Inside the Dallas Lady Mountaineers’ Historic Year

The 2025 season will forever stand as one of the most meaningful chapters in the history of the Dallas Lady Mountaineers Volleyball Program — not just because of wins and records, but because of the culture, character, and respect this team brought to every moment on the court.

Finishing with an impressive 16–4 record and a deep playoff run, Dallas proved they were more than just a competitive team — they were a program built on values. That commitment to sportsmanship and integrity earned historic recognition when the Lady Mountaineers received the PIAA Sportsmanship Award presented by the Wyoming Valley Chapter — the first time in program history this honor has been awarded to Dallas Girls volleyball.

“This award means everything to our team,” said Head Coach Kerecman.
“It reflects how these girls treat officials, respect their opponents, and support one another. They care about the game the right way.”

All season long, Dallas competed with intensity while never losing sight of what truly matters — applauding great plays from opponents, maintaining composure with officials, and showing unity regardless of the score. Those close to the program understood that this group’s impact reached far beyond the scoreboard.

The postseason became a true reflection of the team’s growth. Entering the playoffs as the #5 seed, Dallas faced #4 Tunkhannock in the quarterfinals — a team that had defeated them earlier in the preseason. This time, the Lady Mountaineers came ready. With confidence, energy, and belief in one another, they secured a statement 3–1 victory (25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 25-15), showcasing how far they had come. Their journey continued into the semifinals against top-seeded Berwick. Though the season ended there, the team walked away proud, knowing they competed with heart every step of the way.

Much of the program’s rise can be traced to the leadership of Coach Kerecman, whose dedication extends far beyond practices and matches. Driving over an hour each way from Wayne County, she has poured her passion into building a lasting culture at Dallas. One of her most impactful achievements was starting the Dallas Middle School Volleyball Program — creating a pipeline that continues to strengthen the future of the Lady Mountaineers from the ground up.  

Since taking over, Coach K has guided Dallas to the playoffs every season, including a District Runner-Up finish, while establishing a standard built on discipline, teamwork, and accountability.

“We have incredible depth,” she explained. “Our biggest challenge is having so many talented players and only six spots on the court — and that speaks to how far this program has come.”

" I cant take all the credit -- this program is built by an incredible group of coaches and athletes who show up every day ready to work. This season felt way different than pass years, and you could see it in how our players put each other first  instead of making it about themselves. That's what truly make this culture speical. It's the commitment, the selfessness, and the effort everyone bring into the gym that continues to move Dallas Girls Volleyball Forward." 

As the team looks ahead to the 2026 season, excitement continues to build. While Dallas will graduate four seniors — Junior athletes who have been part of the program since seventh grade and helped lead a historic 9–1 middle school season  Aurora Deem, Juliana Torres-Barriera, Karly Kovitch, Kayla Whiden, Lily Horsefield, Natalie Hindsdale.  Seniors which was part of that season Lydia Sutton,Izabela Makukova

 — the future remains incredibly strong, along with the highly anticipated comeback of Ava Adams, who missed the season due to a concussion. After leading the Wyoming Valley Conference with 231 kills as a freshman, her return brings even more energy and momentum to an already competitive roster.

The strength of Dallas volleyball extends far beyond traditional labels like Varsity and JV — together, they are simply known as “The Squad.” Coach Kerecman believes in building one united program rather than separating athletes by titles, creating a culture where everyone trains, grows, and competes as one team. Every day in the gym, these athletes push each other to be better, proving that the power of the program comes from unity, hard work, and a shared commitment to something bigger than individual roles..  With more than 20+  8th grader athletes rising through the middle school program — many with experience competing at AAU Nationals in Orlando — the foundation for long-term success is firmly in place. Friendships built through school and travel volleyball have created a culture where athletes uplift one another, keep drama outside the gym, and focus on growing together as teammates and leaders.

Behind the scenes, the program is supported by a dedicated staff whose commitment never goes unnoticed — Assistant Coach Piontkowski, Coaches Wright, Rushton, and Zarola, Middle School Head Coach Ortueta and Assistant Osias, C-Team Coaches Hofmann and Smith, and team managers Mason Rinehimer, Ethan Bruns, and Callum Baird.

Reflecting on the season, Coach Kerecman summed it up best:

“Success isn’t given — it’s earned through the work you put in when nobody is watching. These girls play for each other, respect the game, and represent Dallas the right way. I couldn’t be more proud.”

With a strong returning core, a growing pipeline of young talent, and a culture built on respect and unity, the Dallas Lady Mountaineers are setting their sights on conference and district titles in the seasons ahead.

One thing is certain — this program is no longer just competing.
It’s leading the way.