Mike Vukovcan During his long tenure at Hopewell, HC Terry Borkovic has turned the High School Girls’ volleyball team into one of the most consistent and respected programs in the WPIAL.
For 27 consecutive years, the Lady Vikings have made the WPIAL volleyball playoffs and more times than not have been in contention for the section championship.
Under Borkovic’s leadership, Hopewell has become a winning program. It doesn’t matter who graduates because they have players in the wings ready to step in and perform in a manner needed to keep the winning going.
Because of this success, volleyball has become a popular sport in Hopewell as girls growing up, see the success and want to be a part of it.
That was very much evident over the last month as girls in 7th and 8th grade have been working out and competing to make this years’ Hopewell 7th and 8th grade girls’ volleyball team.
A&S Federal Credit Union are proud sponsors of Hopewell Boys and Girls High School, Junior High and Youth Sports.
Unfortunately, because of the large number of girls that tried out for the team, Coach Borkovic and Coach Lexi Thompson were forced to make approximately 15 total cuts.
For those girls that didn’t make the team, remember that this doesn’t have to be the end of your volleyball career. You’re just in junior high and have a lot of time left to get better.
Remember, Michael Jordan got cut in 9th grade from his high school team and went on to have a pretty good basketball career.
Congratulations to the following girls that made the 2026 Hopewell 7th and 8th Grade JH girls’ volleyball teams.
7th Grade Team:
Savi Neophytou
Malena BonAnno
Eva Hein
Kendall Miller
Callie Sadler
Jayden Kemp
Rilyn Davis
Gia Yurcina
Kyla McNutt
Kalean Potter
Isla Rock
Natalie Benninghoff
Adelynn Gray
Vanessa Kurta
Kendall Bain
7th Grade JH Volleyball Team
8th Grade Team:
Kelsey Homick
Riley Yanchik
Ellie McCoy
Alyssa Phillips
Afton Budris
G’lianna Wilcox
Brooke Otto
Sam Holsinger
Ariana Fischer
Leah Buettner
Lily Cain
Sierra Perry
Stella Sannan
Amiyah Shell
Arionna Shell
8th Grade JH Girls Volleyball Team
Over the next couple of months, these girls will be competing against teams from Avonworth, Montour, South Fayette, Quaker Valley, West Allegheny, and Fort Cherry.
13 matches in total will be played and there are no playoffs in junior high volleyball. They will compete in one 10-team tournament in late March at Central Valley High School.
