Nowadays, if a team wins three championships in
a row, the word ‘dynasty’ is bandied about. If that is the case,
what word would we use to describe Donna Pfeifer’s tenure with the
Ambridge girls’ volleyball program? The Lady Bridgers rang up a
remarkable record since earning varsity status in 1973, winning 250
section games and losing only four over the next 26 years, all under
the tutelage of Freedom graduate Pfeifer. Although Donna played
basketball at West Chester State College, she jumped at the chance
to start the volleyball grogram when it was introduced in Ambridge.
In the club’s first year (1972), they went 5-5 but since 1973 have
won 23 section championships, tying for first the other three
years. The team made the WPIAL playoffs each of those 26 seasons,
reaching the Final Four seven times. The Lady Bridgers have also
played in the PIAA playoffs four years, finishing as high as third
twice. The team has also earned 11 Midwestern Athletic Conference
championships. The Lady Bridger volleyball squad ran up 122 consecutive wins in section play
before the streak was broken in 1998. Donna has also proven her
ability to get her girls into college: no less than 71 girls have
received scholarships, including 24 at Division I schools. Donna’s
resume also includes successful stints with the Bridger boys’
volleyball team (three playoffs in five years) and the Duquesne
University women (two playoffs in two years). On April 21, 1999,
Donna received the National Recognition Award for Excellence, a
presidential citation, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Nowadays, if a team wins three championships in
a row, the word ‘dynasty’ is bandied about. If that is the case,
what word would we use to describe Donna Pfeifer’s tenure with the
Ambridge girls’ volleyball program? The Lady Bridgers rang up a
remarkable record since earning varsity status in 1973, winning 250
section games and losing only four over the next 26 years, all under
the tutelage of Freedom graduate Pfeifer. Although Donna played
basketball at West Chester State College, she jumped at the chance
to start the volleyball grogram when it was introduced in Ambridge.
In the club’s first year (1972), they went 5-5 but since 1973 have
won 23 section championships, tying for first the other three
years. The team made the WPIAL playoffs each of those 26 seasons,
reaching the Final Four seven times. The Lady Bridgers have also
played in the PIAA playoffs four years, finishing as high as third
twice. The team has also earned 11 Midwestern Athletic Conference
championships. The Lady Bridger volleyball squad ran up 122 consecutive wins in section play
before the streak was broken in 1998. Donna has also proven her
ability to get her girls into college: no less than 71 girls have
received scholarships, including 24 at Division I schools. Donna’s
resume also includes successful stints with the Bridger boys’
volleyball team (three playoffs in five years) and the Duquesne
University women (two playoffs in two years). On April 21, 1999,
Donna received the National Recognition Award for Excellence, a
presidential citation, in Boston, Massachusetts.