New girls volleyball program gets off the ground at Sewickley Academy

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 11:01 AM

There’s a trendy new sport in town that has the Sewickley Academy athletic program adrenalized.

For the first time in school history, Sewickley is fielding a girls volleyball team this fall coached by Julia Arlia.

“We are extremely excited to launch our first girls volleyball team this year,” said Mike Scerbo, Sewickley’s director of athletics, earlier this season. “We have had a tremendous turnout with 17 girls on the roster. Our goals for the year are to establish a love of the game and grow as a team.”

Arlia and the Panthers are not diving immediately into the deep end of girls volleyball in Western Pennsylvania.

Instead, they are starting out by dipping in their toes then will keep going from there.

“I plan to create an all-inclusive, safe space for athletes of all ages and levels to grow and thrive in the sport,” Arlia said. “While some of our players have played the sport in the past, the majority of our girls have never played.

“So, we spent the first few weeks of the preseason really diving into technique and proper form to begin building strong habits on the court.”

The Panthers made history Aug. 26 in their first match of the season by defeating Propel Braddock Hills, 3-0, in a section event.

Sewickley was sparked by the trio of Kiera Church, Annabel Lopez and Mikaela Mbandi against the Lions.

“The team did a great job keeping the intensity throughout the match and working to keep the lead each point,” Arlia said. “We had high energy each set, and our excitement after winning points helped keep that energy high. Each player that got onto the court gave it their all.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the work each athlete on our roster has put in, and it truly is paying off. At our first tournament, we won a set against Winchester Thurston, and it was a really exciting moment for all. Being able to work with players who have never been on the court and helping them grow, to then being able to beat another team — even in just one set — was incredible to watch.”

Arlia is a first-grade teacher in the Fox Chapel Area School District who has had an extensive playing career in volleyball.

She was a four-year competitor on the club team at Duquesne, where she was the starting setter and captain. She also played five years of club volleyball at Pitt United and four years at the varsity level at North Hills.

Arlia graduated magna cum laude from Duquesne in 2024 with a major in early childhood education. She recently finished her fifth season coaching in the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association.

Sewickley’s first-year coach also has experience working as an assistant at both North Hills and Avonworth.

“Due to this being a brand-new sport at Sewickley, there are a lot of unknowns,” Arlia said. “Moving forward, I plan to instill even more confidence in each athlete.

“At the high school level, I believe that all players should master their technique to the basic skills and having that baseline will truly help them perform at a high level.”

The Panthers were scheduled to play their first home match Sept. 8 against Aliquippa at Means Events Center.

Sewickley also hosts Winchester Thurston on Sept. 11 and Nazareth Prep on Sept. 17.

Tags: Sewickley Academy