After holding tryouts and practices during the second full week of August, Mount St. Joseph Academy's field hockey, tennis and volleyball teams engaged in their first interscholastic matches last week.

Kyra Castano is back for her fourth season as head coach of the Magic field hockey franchise, along with assistant Erika Stefanides. Joining the staff is former goalie Claudia Marzec, who, like the other Mount mentors, played for St. Francis University (Pa.).

In 2023, the Magic reached the semifinals of the PIAA District 1 tournament, then won the third/fourth-place game. The Mounties lost in the second round of the PIAA Class 2A state tournament to Catholic Academies colleague Villa Maria, which won both the district and state championships.

Mount St. Joe's 2024 team captains are Sienna Noh, who will continue her career at Johns Hopkins University, and Joie Katsock. The other seniors on the squad are veterans Sara Burman and Jill Marcolina, as well as Julia Farren, who has moved up onto the varsity squad this fall.

Returning goalkeeper Lexi Kelly is among a group of juniors that includes Alexa Durand, Avery Lasky, Nora Massella, Lydia Moy, and Katie Tropiano. There was a very strong freshman class last fall, and back in the ranks this fall as sophomores are Kaitlyn Comuso, Tess Hankins, Julia McGlynn, Caitlin Paul, and reserve goalie Kathryn Pedicino. The lone freshman to make it onto the varsity squad thus far is Sara Masella, Nora's sister.

The Mount's tennis team had begun match play with much the same line-up it deployed in 2023. All of the starting singles players return for the Magic, and they're still only juniors.

Entering her 10th season in command of the MSJ racquetwomen is Joy Grafenstine, whose teams have either won outright or shared the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies championship every year she's been coaching. Kate Murray returns for her fifth season on the coaching staff.

Mount St. Joe launched its non-league schedule last Wednesday by hosting one of the largest public high schools in the region, North Penn. The Magic won three of the four doubles bouts to edge out the Maidens, 4-3.

Paige Mattle won for the Mount at second singles, 6-0, 6-2, while Natalie Reynolds and Maeve Kelly bowed to North Penn opponents at first and third singles, respectively.

Junior Savana Paris and freshman Maddie Coop teamed up to win the first doubles match in a pair of 6-2 sets, while at second doubles, sophomore Avery McNiven and freshman Bridget Murray lost in a third-set tiebreaker. Sophomores Lucy McGann and Iris Burton-Sampson prevailed, 6-1, 6-4 at third doubles, and in the fourth flight a pair of 6-4 sets won it for Mount sophomore Olivia Mele and junior Mia Dillon.

Sophomore Claire Furletti and junior Amelia Fedoruk also saw action in an exhibition doubles match. In a five-flight match the following day, Mount St. Joe swept Archbishop Carroll. The captains for the Mounties this fall are senior Sophie Householder and juniors Mattle and Paris.

In the Mount's gymnasium, the volleyball team closed out the week on Friday evening by opening the 2024 season with a match against Pennridge High School.

Hitter Lauren Montgomery and libero Marin Stensrud, both seniors, are the Magic's co-captains this year. Unlike the tennis squad, Mount volleyball is having to cope with graduation losses, as the five 2023 seniors have moved on. Last fall, the Mounties won their opening match in the District 1 Class 3A tournament, then succumbed to league rival Villa Maria in the second round.

For last Friday's match, the MSJ team captains were joined in the starting rotation by senior classmates Elizabeth Johnsson and Jaidyn Mitchell, a defensive specialist and setter, respectively. Also in action from the outset were junior hitters Gabby Clair and Bridget Horgan, and sophomore middle Jahtalia Miros. Junior Kaitlyn Cockerham also made her presence felt as a reserve outside hitter.

A strong serving stretch by Clair helped get the Mount out to a 10-4 lead in the opening set, and the Magic went on to win, 25-16. The teams were tied at 13-13 in the middle of the second set, then Pennridge created and maintained a slim lead that resulted in a 25-22 victory. The Lady Rams continued to gather momentum, charging to a 13-3 lead in set three before winning 25-17, and then taking the fourth set, 25-14.

Mount head coach Amy Bergin is now in her eighth season at the helm, and familiar assistants Jerry Abdalla, Suzie Bergin and John McKnight are back with the squad.