Tag Archives: Sue Dempsey

Dunmorean of the Month: Susan Dempsey

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Dunmore volleyball coach selected to Northeast Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame

By Steve Svetovich

Longtime Dunmore volleyball coach Susan Dempsey is going into the Northeastern Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Daughter of Edward and Joyce Schmidt, Susan is one of 10 new members to be inducted into the Northeastern Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame during the annual induction ceremony Sunday, October 6, at Fiorelli’s, Peckville.

The others to be inducted include Jordan Hoyt Calvey, Joseph Dente, Matt McGloin, Elizabeth (Beth) McGowan, Steven Pratico, James Tomcho and Gina Chieffallo Moreno. Rick Muntean will receive the annual service award. Scranton Times-Tribune sports editor Chris Imperiale is the annual media recipient.

“Honestly, I was very honored and humbled just to be considered for induction,” coach Dempsey said. “I am very grateful that I was chosen and sincerely thank everyone that made this possible. My philosophy has always been if we have fun, the wins will come. We need to work hard every day to achieve our goals, but if we are not having fun doing it then we won’t be successful.”

Coach Dempsey started the first ever girls volleyball program in the district in 2006 with Dunmore.

Susan Dempsey from a recent Dunmore alumni volleyball game held this past December with grandson Will and daughters Jaclyn and Kimberly. Both daughters played for her. Jaclyn was a part of the first team in 2006.

“I feel fortunate to have been an integral part of starting the girls program at Dunmore. This program has given student-athletes an opportunity to learn a sport without a youth feeder program and potentially continue their athletic career in college. We’ve had several students play at the collegiate level and that makes me proud.”

Susan was selected to the All-County volleyball team as a graduate of Cranford High School in New Jersey in 1981.

She played volleyball for Big East NCAA Division I Seton Hall University in 1982, then for Marywood College in 1983 and 1984, earning MVP honors in the later year.

She became women’s volleyball coach at Marywood College in 1992. She coached there through 1996. She led the team to a PAC runner-up spot in 1992, then to the PAC championship in 1993 when she also earned Coach of the Year honors.

Susan became head girls’ volleyball coach at Abington Heights in 1998, coaching there through 2001. She led Abington Heights to the first PIAA District II AAA girls’ volleyball championship in school history in 2001.

She established the first ever girls’ volleyball program in the district at Dunmore in 2006. At Dunmore, she has won two PIAA District 1A volleyball championships in 2013 and 2014. She has also led Dunmore to 10 Lackawanna League girls’ volleyball championships and to seven PIAA District 2A Runner-up finishes.

Coach Dempsey, both dedicated and humble, reached the 200 career wins milestone in 2018. She has a remarkable 264-41 won-loss record at Dunmore. She was the Scranton Times-Tribune girls’ volleyball Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2017.

Three of her players were named all-state and four were Times-Tribune Players of the Year. A total of 15 of her players were named to the All-Region team.

Dempsey’s daughters Jaclyn and Kimberly congratulating her on school’s first volleyball district championship concluding 2012-13 season.

Susan and her husband Sean have been married 34 years and reside in Dunmore. The couple have three children: Jaclyn Dempsey Youssef (married to Cameron), Kimberly Dempsey Roberts (married to Justin) and Sean Dempsey, Jr. The couple has one grandson, William Roberts. A second grandchild is due this month.

Both Jaclyn and Kimberly played for their mom at Dunmore. Jaclyn was a part of the first team in 2006.

“I am very fortunate and humbled that I’ve had the opportunity to coach at Dunmore over the past 18 years,” Susan said. “I thank the administration, my assistant coaches, the athletic directors, the trainers, student-athletes, the parents and my family who have given me the support to be able to pursue my passion as a volleyball coach.

“I often refer to the quote, ‘If you can change one person’s life you feel like you’ve done something. I hope I have done that with the student-athletes I’ve had the pleasure to coach throughout my career.”

Coach Dempsey received a Bachlor of Science degree in Mathematics from Marywood College in 1985. She is currently a senior project manager at Geisinger.

Athlete of the Month: Erika Bistran

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athlete-of-the-month-erika-bistran-picBy Steve Svetovich

Dunmore senior volleyball outside hitter Erika Bistran was selected All Regional for the second time in her outstanding four-year career.

Daughter of Lori and Rob Bistran, Dunmore, Erika, 18, is a team player all the way.

Hard working and humble, she was quick to praise teammates, opponents and coaches when she heard about her selection.

“I was shocked and did not expect it,” she said. “It is quite an accomplishment and takes a lot of hard work. There are a lot of great players in our league, so you don’t know if this is possible. We have great coaching and it’s a team game. Volleyball is point by point. It is play by play. You play as a team. I have great teammates here who all work hard.”

Erika finished the season with 268 kills, 60 digs, 67 aces and 107 serving points. She finished her career with 415 kills, 135 digs, 139 aces and 381 serving points.

She was also an All Regional selection in her freshman year. She was a first-team all-star as a freshman.

Coached by Sue Dempsey, the Dunmore girls’ volleyball team finished a splendid season with an 18-3 record. Dunmore finished second in its division and lost the district title game to Holy Redeemer.

“We had a nice year,” said Erika. “We were young and a little inexperienced, so we had to come together as a team. We had to get the job done and make it happen. It was a lot of hard work, but we played as a team and really put it together.”

Erika has a 3.6 academic average and aspires to become a Physician’s Assistant. She has applied to Kings College for the Physician’s Assistant program.

Erika, well rounded in all aspects of academics, clubs and sports, is president of the Spanish Club at Dunmore. She is secretary of the TACT Club and a member of SADD, the French Club and National Honor Society. Her favorite subject is history.

Erika is also a four-year member and two-year starter as a forward on the Dunmore girls’ basketball team. She averaged over six points and over eight rebounds per game last season.

She has been a Dunmore football cheerleader for the past two years.

She talked about what it takes to be a good volleyball player in high school. “It takes a lot of hard work. You have to practice hard both in season and out of season. You have to push yourself to be the best. And you really have to love the sport.”

Erika said she has learned a lot from coach Dempsey. “She always teaches to be a team player and a leader. When you are down, pick everyone up. Volleyball is a team sport, not an individual sport.”

Erika, who is a big fan of Carrie Underwood and would like to see her in concert, talked about her future goals. “I definitely want to focus on school and become a Physician’s Assistant. I might play volleyball in college. In the end, it is all about school.”

The talented scholar-athlete lives by the Beach Boys song, “Be True to Your School.” Erika loves Dunmore High School.

“I love it,” she said. “Dunmore High is a great place to be. The environment is great. The environment is like no other school. The Friday night football games are amazing. Dunmore is one of a kind. I love it here. I have great experiences with great people.”

Dunmore volleyball player receives high honors

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Athlete of the Month: Izzy Cooper

By Steve Svetovich

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Photo Credit: Rich Banick/Rich Banick Photography

Dunmore senior Izzy Cooper was named Times-Tribune volleyball player of the year and selected Class AA All-State by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association.

Cooper also helped lead the Lady Bucks volleyball team to the Lackawanna League championship.

She joins Jillian Korgeski, a two-time Times-Tribune player of the year, and Kimberly Dempsey as the only players from the Dunmore Lady Bucks volleyball program who have achieved All-State honors.

She is a three-year starter and three-time All-Region selection. She dominated league play in her senior year and was also chosen by the coaches as the Lackawanna League Most Valuable Player.

The talented senior totaled 279 kills with a 54.5 kill percentage, 114 service points with 33 aces, 14 blocks and 217 assists.

For her career, she is second on the program’s kill list with 600. Korgeski is first with 847.

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Photo Credit: Rich Banick/Rich Banick Photography

She also had career totals of 328 serving points, 103 aces, 36 blocks, 81 digs and 812 assists.

In Cooper’s three seasons, Dunmore had a 75-6 overall record. She was a part of a District 2 Class A title in her sophomore season,

Her sister Vivian was an All-Region volleyball player in 2012.

She credited her teammates for all making key contributions to a championship season.

Lauren Slavoski, Amanda Curcio and Courtney Kijek of Holy Redeemer were also chosen Class AA All-State.