The Padua Academy (Wilmington, DE) varsity volleyball team will host a home playoff match against St. Mark’s (Wilmington, DE) today at 6 p.m. at Padua Academy. This game is part of the 2024 DIAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament (Delaware) – State Tournament.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Delaware High School Volleyball
Who: St. Mark’s vs Padua Academy
When: Today, November 11, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 DIAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament (Delaware) – State Tournament
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Game preview: St. Mark’s vs Padua Academy

As the volleyball season unfolds, St. Mark’s and Padua Academy, both with impressive records, are locked in an exciting rivalry. With nearly identical overall records and an equally competitive history, these two teams are setting the stage for a thrilling playoff matchup. Let’s dive into their performances, statistics, and head-to-head records to see what to expect in this intense showdown.

Team Records & Overview

Both St. Mark’s and Padua Academy boast a 13-4 overall record in the 2024-2025 season, with strong performances in their respective leagues.

• St. Mark’s (24-25)
  • Overall Record: 13-4
  • League Record: 2-0
  • Home Record: 6-0
  • Away Record: 5-4
  • Neutral Record: 2-0
  • Win Percentage: .765
  • League Win Percentage: 1.000
• Padua Academy (24-25)
  • Overall Record: 13-4
  • League Record: 1-1
  • Home Record: 7-1
  • Away Record: 4-3
  • Neutral Record: 2-0
  • Win Percentage: .765
  • League Win Percentage: .500

St. Mark’s has been particularly dominant at home, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record, while Padua Academy has been strong at home as well, with a 7-1 record. These teams have shown resilience, especially in non-league matchups, where both schools have secured strong victories.

Team Scoring Averages

The two teams also demonstrate a strong offensive presence on the court, with similar scoring averages.

• St. Mark’s:
  • S1: 25.0
  • S2: 20.0
  • S3: 25.3
  • S4: 22.7
  • S5: 11.0
  • Wins: 2.6
• Padua Academy:
  • S1: 24.0
  • S2: 25.0
  • S3: 20.8
  • S4: 23.7
  • S5: 15.0
  • Wins: 2.5

Both teams show solid performances across the board, with St. Mark’s scoring particularly well in the first and third sets, while Padua Academy excels in the second and fourth sets. Their consistent play across all sets indicates that they are evenly matched in terms of offensive and defensive capabilities.

Head-to-Head Matchups

This rivalry has already seen some exciting encounters this season:

• September 17, 2024: St. Mark’s won 3-2 in a thrilling non-conference matchup, overcoming Padua Academy in a hard-fought contest.
• October 22, 2024: Padua Academy avenged the earlier loss, winning 3-2 in another close match, showing their ability to bounce back and compete at a high level.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced a number of common opponents, giving insights into their performance relative to each other. Here’s a breakdown of how they did against these shared teams:

• Wilmington Charter: St. Mark’s lost 3-0 in an away game, while Padua Academy won 3-1 at home.
• Ursuline Academy: St. Mark’s won 3-2 at home, while Padua Academy lost 3-1 at home.
• St. Elizabeth: St. Mark’s won 3-0 at home, while Padua Academy won 3-0 at home.
• Caravel: Both teams had success against Caravel, with St. Mark’s winning 3-0 and Padua Academy winning 3-0 in separate contests.

While Padua Academy has a slightly better record against common opponents (8-2 compared to St. Mark’s 6-3), both teams have demonstrated their ability to compete at a high level, especially when facing tough competition.

Playoff Implications

The rivalry between St. Mark’s and Padua Academy is set to intensify as they meet in the playoffs. St. Mark’s enters with an unblemished 2-0 record in playoff matches this season, while Padua Academy also boasts a perfect 2-0 record in playoff games. This sets up an exciting, high-stakes encounter with both teams looking to advance and continue their dominant performances.

Conclusion

With nearly identical records, comparable scoring averages, and an evenly split head-to-head history, the upcoming playoff match between St. Mark’s and Padua Academy promises to be an intense and highly competitive clash. Fans can expect a thrilling showdown as both teams battle it out for a spot in the next round of the playoffs. Whoever comes out on top will have earned it, with every set sure to bring drama and excitement.