Sophia Schweikert joined Upper Merion’s varsity program at a unique time.
A decorated operation that’s pumped out six district titles — along with over 800 wins in 29 years — the last few haven’t been up to par with down years in the pandemic.
As the Vikings have been rebuilding, Schweikert emerged last year with a slam-dunk freshman debut that garnered Mercury All-Area honors after earning nearly 500 kills.
The natural question was whether or not the 6-foot outside hitter reached her statistical ceiling. Upper Merion coach Tony Funsten admitted that at the time, it seemed likely.
But that was before 2022.
“This year, I don’t know if anyone’s had a year like she’s had,” Funsten said. “I didn’t think she could possibly top what she did last year. That is insane.”
Schweikert earned her 1,000th career kill against Unionville in the District 1 Class 4A tournament on Oct. 29 and sits at 1,081 in her career. The sophomore is the fastest in the school’s history to reach that mark and is currently on pace to go over 2,000 kills and 1,000 digs as well, having 610 career digs already.
“I set my goal for 1,000 this year, and being able to reach that goal and get more than what I expected is really amazing,” Schweikert said.
Upper Merion’s Sophia Schweikert leaps up to make a kill against Methacton during the Pioneer Athletic Conference girls volleyball semifinals at Perkiomen Valley High School on Oct. 18. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
The first team All-State hitter has been near uncontainable, landing 602 kills with a .312 hitting percentage on 1,262 attacks this season to claim her second All-Area first-team selection, as well as the Mercury All-Area Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
“Some teams don’t get that many,” Funsten said. “She’s in a category all by herself. Certainly we’ve had great players at Upper Merion, but she’s had opportunities and is making the most of them.”
The only player in the state of Pennsylvania who’s registered more kills this season than Schweikert is Philipsburg-Osceola’s Reese Hazelton with 608.
Upper Merion’s team is a determined bunch, that much is easy to see from a glance. But Schweikert is a self-motivator with dogged determination, and that determination is infectious to those on her side of the court.
When dueling Strath Haven to a four-set win to keep their season alive in the District 1 playbacks, with Funsten out with an illness, Schweikert’s Vikings showed urgency on the court, fighting through close sets and not getting rattled when they weren’t able to sweep.
And as an underclassman, that ceiling still looms tall — other areas that can improve outside of being one of the top power-hitters in the state.
“My mindset is one of the bigger ones,” Schweikert said. “I need to tell myself that making up for a mistake is okay.”
Upper Merion’s Sophia Schweikert, left, stands alongside assistant coach Tim Storti, right, holding a volleyball gifted to her pre-match for earning her 1,000th kill as a sophomore against Unionville. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Perhaps a ball is served out of bounds or there’s a miscommunication on the court. Mistakes, more often than not, are made up for with another load of kills to hang in any match.
Upper Merion’s team is young. Schweikert is, too. Although it might not happen often, the Vikings get humbled once in a while, such as their semifinal loss to Unionville and five-set elimination by Downingtown West in the District 1 tournament, or their loss to Pope John Paul II in the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship.
Growing pains happen. Especially for a young squad righting the program’s ship after some off years during the pandemic. Mistakes can happen in any given match. Sometimes those mistakes begin to consume headspace.
“It happens a lot actually, but I think I know now how to control myself and I’ve matured,” Schweikert said.
Taking to open gyms during the fall season and working clinics Tuesdays and Thursdays after practice, Schweikert logs hours mastering her craft physically and mentally.
From having first picked up a ball at age 7 and attending camps for East Coast Power for two years, to playing club for Synergy today, Schweikert is all in on raising her ceiling. That was evident when the once-center fielder stepped away from softball to pour all her efforts into volleyball.
“She’s certainly a very special player. And she may never duplicate this year because the other players around her are getting better, meaning they’ll get more opportunities,” Funsten said.
Upper Merion’s Sophia Schweikert makes a dig against Methacton during the second round of the District 1 Class 4A tournament at Methacton on Oct. 27. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Senior setter Caitlyn Daywalt finished her career at Upper Merion with 1,627 assists. Of those assists, 1,453 of them have come in the last two years during Schweikert’s underclassmen seasons.
And though the Vikings will lose Daywalt to graduation, Schweikert is joined by five other sophomores — Raven Albrecht, Sydney Bright, Amala Vilivalam, Maya Giles and Amber Chang — who’ve developed on the court, share that doggedness and are helping to put Upper Merion back in elevated company.
“My team and I, we’re determined about everything,” Schweikert said. “We set a goal and try to reach that goal or surpass it.”
With Pope John Paul II coming off its first 3A state title over WPIAL power North Catholic after winning out the PAC, the conference rivalry between Upper Merion and the Golden Panthers will undoubtedly be one that’s exciting to follow over the next couple years.
And it’ll be perfectly suited for Schweikert, who craves that type of opponent to line up opposite the net, testing her speed and power like few have been able to.
“Personally, I love having tougher competition just because I feel like one, there’s much more opportunity and two, I like when I play harder and faster,” Schweikert said on stacking up against Pope John Paul II.
Playing harder and faster is exactly the jump Schweikert made in her sophomore year. And maybe it’s fair to ask that same question, if there’s any way for her to outdo herself again.
If her trajectory is any indication, perhaps the discussion will be reopened a year from now.
