H-S Athlete of the Week: Riley Puckey, Southmoreland
Submitted photo
Name: Riley Puckey
School: Southmoreland
Class: Senior
Sport: Volleyball
Puckey’s week: Puckey recorded 17 assists, eight kills and nine digs in an outstanding overall performance to help lead Southmoreland to its first PIAA girls volleyball victory on Nov. 5 at North Star in Boswell. This season, under first-year coach Michelle Pergar, also produced the program’s first appearance in the state tournament, its first postseason with multiple wins and its first appearance in the WPIAL semifinals. Southmoreland defeated North Star 3-2 by scores of 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 22-25 and 15-6. Playing in the state quarterfinals for the first time, the Lady Scotties’s season ended with a 3-0 loss to Cathedral Prep on Saturday. They finished with a 17-6 record.
Southmoreland defeated Seton LaSalle 3-1 and South Park 3-2 in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs with the second win securing the Lady Scotties a spot in the PIAA playoffs. Southmoreland lost to eventual WPIAL champion Quaker Valley in a tough three-set match in the district semifinals then lost a consolation match to Neshannock 3-0 before the match with North Star.
“We were coming off two kind of upsetting losses,” said Puckey, the 17-year-old daughter of Steven and Julie Puckey. “We were really looking to come back with a good team win, and that was what we did. We started off really strong, there were a few ups and downs but we fought through it and won the fifth set again. It was just a very good team effort.” The Lady Scotties were 5-0 in matches that went five sets this season, including 2-0 in the playoffs. “I feel like whenever we get into the fifth set our team just knows how to come through and win it from there,” said Puckey, who does a little bit of everything for the Lady Scotties. “I mostly set and am a right side hitter. I play all around though. I play defense as well.”
Pergar commended her 5-foot-7 senior. “Riley is extremely strong, first and foremost,” Pergar said. “I noticed last year when I was a line judge. She was only utilized as a setter. I rarely ever saw her swing at a ball. I noticed how strong she was and how well she flowed on the court as far as getting to the ball for setting and her serving ability. I said this girl can hit.” Pergar adjusted Puckey’s role accordingly this season. “I think the fact she’s not just a setter, she’s a powerhouse up in the front row is what makes her special,” Pergar said. “She can tip a ball, she can swing. We were able to utilize her in more than just the setting aspect. She has fantastic hands for setting as well as blocking. She has a very nice vertical which is something you don’t always get in a setter. She has the full package.”
While beating North Star was a milestone win, Puckey cited the WPIAL semifinal win over South Park as her most memorable. The Lady Scotties won by scores of 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 20-25 and 15-8 as Puckey put up a double-double with 15 assists and 12 kills. “That match was very nerve-wracking,” she said. “Their fans were going crazy but we had the same amount of support. It was so loud and exciting. That match probably stands out the most because if we lost we were done, our senior season would’ve been over. Winning it meant we made even more history. That one was full of emotions.
“I really feel like I came through a lot in that match, like I stepped up when we needed it. If we were down a couple points I got a kill or got a point in some way and brought everybody up.”
Close-knit group: Puckey points out the great relationship her teammates have with each other as a key to their success. “Basically our whole team is our friend group,” Puckey said. “We work so well together. We talk and laugh and are close to each other. We’re all able to pick each other up. We’re all best friends and I think that shows on the court. I sit in class and think about everything we accomplished this season and how great it was to be part of the team that broke all these records and made school history.”
Changes: Puckey was a starter on last year’s team that also won a section title and notched the program’s first playoff win but the Lady Scotties were hit hard by graduation. “Losing all the good seniors we had last year was definitely a setback. But I had a lot of confidence in us and thought we could go pretty far again.” Southmoreland swept through the section this year. “We really wanted to go through the section undefeated and our last match was pretty tough against Burrell,” Puckey said. “We went five sets with them both times and won both. That one match was just so fun and exciting.”
Coaching carousel: Southmoreland has had a slew of coaching changes in girls volleyball with Pergar taking over this season. “I loved her. I think she did a great job this season and led us to all those school records,” Puckey said. “I’m very thankful that she stepped up to be our coach this year. We’ve had to adjust to five different coaches in my six years in volleyball here.”
Tidbits: Puckey enjoys snowboarding. “I don’t play a winter sport but I do go snowboarding a lot,” she said. “I love going up to Seven Springs. I’m constantly up there weekdays after school and I spend the weekends there just snowboarding.” … Puckey was thankful for the fans that got behind her team. “We had so much support throughout the whole community,” she said. “We had parades and pep rallies. It was really fun. Our first playoff game was at home and that was a great atmosphere.” … Puckey has a younger sister, Sydney, a sophomore who is also a member of the volleyball team. … Puckey is an excellent student with a 4.0 GPA.
Compiled by Rob Burchianti