Phil Anastasia: Leadership common thread for C.H. East stars

One looks like a volleyball player. The other looks like a gymnast.

One is quiet. The other has been known to interrupt the coaches to tell her teammates a thing or two in the huddle.

On the surface, there's a lot of differences between Christina Sexauer and Dana Schwarz, senior captains for the Cherry Hill East girls' volleyball team.

But Cougars coach Scott Mooney prefers to focus on the similarities: Both girls have developed as athletes and matured as people in four years in the program, and both are leaders for a veteran team with its sights set on a Group 4 state title.

"It's been fun watching them grow up," Mooney said after the Cougars' 2-0 victory over Absegami on Tuesday in the opening round of the state tournament.

The No. 6 seed, Cherry Hill East will host No. 11 seed J.P. Stevens tomorrow. With a victory, the Cougars would advance to Tuesday's quarterfinals, likely against No. 3 seed Bridgewater-Raritan.

"We're going to be a tough team to beat," Schwarz said of Cherry Hill East, which has a 17-3 record.

The 5-foot-2 Schwarz is a libero, or defensive specialist, for the Cougars. She's a bundle of energy. She's always diving on the floor, always encouraging her teammates.

The 6-foot Sexauer is a middle hitter. She packs a wallop at the net, but she's also reserved, although she admits to "coming out of my shell" this season.

"I've just grown as a player and as a person," Sexauer said. "I used to be a lot more quiet. I notice more things about the game now, and I'm more comfortable as far as communicating on the court."

Mooney said Schwarz's leadership skills became apparent last year, when the coach thought he was finished talking to the team and asked everyone to put their hands together.

"Dana started going, 'Wait, wait, I've got something to say,' " Mooney said. "You rarely see a girl do that. You very rarely see a junior girl do that.

"But that's Dana. She's outgoing, and she can be forceful, but in a positive way. She wants what's best for the team."

Schwarz said she can't keep quiet if she feels like the team needs to hear another voice.

"If our team is not doing well, I want to try to help out," Schwarz said. "It's just because I care so much for the team. I want what's best for us."

Sexauer and Schwarz took similar paths to their current positions as team captains, a role they share with four-year starter Steph Miller, the Cougars' star setter.

Neither Sexauer nor Schwarz played volleyball before high school. Both joined the program as freshmen and played junior varsity that season. Both made the varsity as sophomores, improved last year, and emerged as key players this season for a team that is a dark horse to win the same state title the Cougars captured in 2005.

"They both started playing club [volleyball], and they understand the game so much better," Miller said. "Dana leads the back row, and Christina is a leader among the hitters."

Mooney said the girls' development as athletes has been mirrored by their growth as individuals.

"It's been rewarding watching those girls develop," Mooney said. "Christina and Dana have taken different paths because they are different in personality, and they are different kinds of players, obviously, because of their height.

"But now that they are seniors, you kind of see them coming together in a lot of similar ways. They both have been outstanding leaders for this team and have shown so much heart out on the court."

Sexauer has 103 kills and 33 blocks. Schwarz has 83 digs.

Cherry Hill East hasn't lost since Oct. 14. The Cougars' three losses were to No. 1 seed Southern in three games, to No. 4 seed Williamstown in three games, and to No. 5 seed Rancocas Valley. They later beat Rancocas Valley in a rematch.

"We can beat anybody," Sexauer said.

That's a bold statement for a normally quiet player. But her teammate who is rarely at a loss for words couldn't have said it any better.