Thomas Jefferson volleyball shows will to win in another section championship season

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 26, 2025 | 11:01 AM

There was no second-guessing coach Courtney Frost in her assessment of the Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball team earlier this season.

The Jaguars’ second-year coach provided a direct and succinct response.

“I expect my team to win our section and make it to the finals of the WPIAL and state playoffs,” Frost said.

Thomas Jefferson is a perennial section champion in girls volleyball. And the Jaguars achieved their coach’s first goal by winning their 28th section title, which also was their sixth straight and 14th in the last 15 years.

“Our team has exceeded our expectations throughout the season,” Frost said. “We are incredibly impressed with the team’s ability to step up in difficult matches as well as their commitment to each other at all times. We have grown as a team utilizing different lineups against certain opponents and supporting each other on and off the court.

“We have come back from deficits and battled as a team on more occasions than I would prefer, but that just shows our staff how much these girls really want to win. I am extremely proud of this team and what we have accomplished thus far. We have a good variety of underclassmen on the court as well as our seniors, and they mold well together to do what it takes to win.”

This year’s section championship was never in doubt for the Jaguars.

TJ finished first in Section 3-3A with a 12-0 record and secured the No. 4 seed for the WPIAL playoffs. The first two rounds of the playoffs were scheduled to take place Oct. 21 and 23. The Jaguars were set to play No. 13 Central Valley in the first round.

“Our team is pretty fired up for the playoffs and zoned in,” said Frost, who is assisted by Jennifer McHugh, Debby McSwiggen and Leslie Schwartz. “They expect to continue the season for a few more weeks.

“We have become a selfless team over this past season. The nonstarters are just as invested in the team as the girls in the starting lineup, pushing each other in practice every day to make each other better. We all have a common goal — win a championship.”

The Jaguars’ regular rotation for the playoffs consists of juniors Viola MacNeil (pin) and Mia Trbovich (pin), seniors Marissa Miller (pin), Hannah Stewart (MH) and Chase Turk (MH), sophomore Riley Burnsworth (setter), junior Tatum Betler (setter), senior Gianna Machi (DS) and junior Sophia Janosko (libero). All but Burnsworth were returning starters in 2025.

Top reserves include senior Izzy Ondo, who sometimes starts at right-side hitter, sophomore Vivian Bishop (MH), junior Sofia Slivan (DS), junior Lia Vickers (setter), seniors Ally Feth (pin) and Addi Bracco (DS), freshman Vanessa Warden (OH), sophomore Emma Tagmeyer (pin), senior Leah Breisinger (DS) and freshman Gina Gudakas (MH).

Stewart is a third-year starter and one of the team leaders. She also has competed in club volleyball for five years.

“Overall, I feel as though we are a very hard-working and dedicated team,” Stewart said. “Every single girl on varsity worked extremely hard through tough times.

“It has been such a pleasure to play with the TJ volleyball team. I have made some of my best friends throughout my years of playing volleyball for TJ. ”

Stewart was anticipating a strong postseason showing by the Jaguars prior to the start of the district playoffs.

“I expect our team to advance in playoffs and be a contender for the championship,” Stewart said. “I believe we could achieve (the WPIAL title) due to the hard work we put into this season and with the right mindset.”

The Jaguars swept section opponents Albert Gallatin, Elizabeth Forward and Uniontown by 3-0 scores and lost one game to Belle Vernon, Laurel Highlands and Ringgold.

TJ also won the Section 3-3A championship with a 12-0 record, 14-3 overall, in 2024 and advanced to the PIAA tournament.

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