How Mars girls volleyball made coach’s bold prediction come true, despite PIAA championship loss

November 16, 2024 Last Updated: November 16, 2024 08:19 PM Sports

Mars girls volleyball team huddles together ahead of their game against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars volleyball coach Tamara Caraway hangs medals on her players' necks after their loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Lily Javor reacts to the team's loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Ella Nicotra spikes the ball against Pope John Paul in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday, Nov. 16. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/16/2024)

Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Hailey Duker reacts to the teams loss against Pope John Paul in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday, Nov. 16. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/16/2024)

Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Lily Javor spikes the ball against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Rylee Wooldridge spikes the ball against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Ella Nicotra reacts to the team's loss against Pope John Paul in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Lily Javor reacts to the team's loss against Pope John Paul in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Lily Javor leads a team huddle while playing Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Gabi Weidemann, left, Rylee Wooldridge and Ella Nicotra react to a referee's call in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game against Pope John Paul II on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Lily Javor receives her medal after the team's loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars' Gabi Weidemann, left, Lily Javor, center, and Alaina Graham embrace after their team's loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Mars girls volleyball team huddles together ahead of their game against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars volleyball coach Tamara Caraway hangs medals on her players' necks after their loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Lily Javor reacts to the team's loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Ella Nicotra spikes the ball against Pope John Paul in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday, Nov. 16. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/16/2024)
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Hailey Duker reacts to the teams loss against Pope John Paul in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday, Nov. 16. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (11/16/2024)
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Lily Javor spikes the ball against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Rylee Wooldridge spikes the ball against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Ella Nicotra reacts to the team's loss against Pope John Paul in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Lily Javor reacts to the team's loss against Pope John Paul in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Lily Javor reacts to the team's loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Lily Javor leads a team huddle while playing Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Gabi Weidemann, left, Rylee Wooldridge and Ella Nicotra react to a referee's call in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game against Pope John Paul II on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Lily Javor receives her medal after the team's loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mars' Gabi Weidemann, left, Lily Javor, center, and Alaina Graham embrace after their team's loss against Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

SILVER SPRING TWP, Cumberland County — Tami Caraway knew there was something special about Mars’ girls volleyball team this year.

Before the Planets opened their season in late August, she made a statement to her players that caught their attention.

“She said, ‘We’re going to the state championship,’” junior libero Alaina Graham said. “Mars had never been there before, and I remember thinking, ‘OK, maybe. ... But we all thought about what she said during the season.”

Saturday afternoon, the Planets (21-5) stood on the court in Cumberland Valley High School’s gymnasium, disappointed about the silver medals hanging from their necks following a 3-1 loss to Pope John Paul II, which won a third straight title and finished with a perfect record, but proud they had made Caraway’s prediction come true.

“We have to remember that today’s loss is not a reflection on our season,” senior outside hitter Lily Javor said. “Getting to the state final is a great accomplishment.”

Caraway’s belief in this team was born in the offseason after the Planets went 9-11 in 2023 and lost in the first round of the WPIAL tournament.

“I watched the kids during the club season, so I had a good sense of where they were at well before the high school season began,” she said.

There were bumps in the road, including a 3-0 sweep at the hands of Beaver in early October.

“Instead of the players getting down on themselves, they focused on what we could learn from it,” Caraway said.

Saturday’s loss was Mars’ first since that date against the Bobcats. In between, the Planets reeled off 13 straight wins, including wins over Beaver in the WPIAL final and state semifinals.

The district crown was the second in program history, joining the 2012 squad.

Mars was defeated by Pope John Paul II in the PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“It was great to see our players turn potential into so much achievement,” Caraway said.

Many key members of this year’s team are scheduled to return next year. Outside hitters Cecilia Christy and Rylee Wooldridge will be seniors, outside Kate Southwell will be a junior and setter Gabi Weidemann will only just be a sophomore in 2025.

“It’s a pleasure to coach players who have the drive to succeed,” Caraway said. “They are hungry to achieve more.”