ROSEMONT -- Germantown Academy's volleyball team has gone by the slogan 'Not Done Yet' all season long. The phrase is a reference to the 2022 season, when the team finished with a 24-3 overall record, went undefeated in the Inter-Ac League, but lost to Academy of Notre Dame in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association Championship, 3-0. Head Coach Chuck Dougherty said that the phrase, which has been printed on the back of the Patriots' warm-up tops, meant that the team would not be satisfied with just winning the league title again in 2023. 

On Nov. 8, the Patriots had the opportunity to make up for falling short a year ago and made sure to take advantage. Germantown Academy came away with the 3-1 win, bringing a PAISAA Volleyball title to Fort Washington for the first time ever, and ending Notre Dame's nine-year run as state champions.

"We worked so hard for this game," co-captain Angie Wang '24 said. "We knew this was coming at the end of the season, and Notre Dame was very strong. I'm just proud of how the team came together. I think that was the best volleyball we've played all season."

GA got out to a 3-0 lead in the first set, but the Irish fought back and tied things at nine. However, the Patriots opened the lead up to as many as eight points, and won the set, 25-17. They also took the second set, 25-19.

The third set went back and forth throughout. With the teams tied at 18, a stretch began where neither would hold more than a two-point lead over the other. Ultimately, the Irish took the set, 34-32.

"We were taking every punch they had and giving it right back" Dougherty said. "Unfortunately, they got us on that one, but it's almost the same thing that happened when we lost a set to Baldwin last week; they came off mad. So, we weren't scared.”

That anger fueled the Patriots in the fourth set as they pulled away from Notre Dame after some early trading of points. GA led by as many as nine points during the set, taking that 25-20, and winning the championship.  

"I feel like we deserved this," co-captain Kaitlin Pokorny said. "I'm so grateful for how we worked and the season we had to get here. It was a battle and I'm glad we pulled through."

Caroline Smith '25 led the team with 24 kills, while Hadley Evans '25 had 13, and Emily Pokorny '26 had 10. Wang and Liv Reynolds '25 each recorded four aces, while Wang and Nicole Ward '26 had 27 and 24 assists, respectively. Smith and Shae Sawyer-St. Clair '23 both recorded two blocks. 

Germantown Academy ends the 2023 season with a 23-3-1 overall record, an 8-0 mark in the Inter-Ac League, a league championship, and a state championship.