Sammy Oteri enjoys being the base of a volleyball foundation much more than the base of a pyramid in cheerleading.
The Neumann-Goretti High School junior has two sisters who cheered for the Saints, but stunting just wasn’t for Sammy.
“No. I wanted no part of it,” Oteri said with a laugh. “I never did it (for a team) but just for fun, I would stunt people like my sisters on the beach. But I would drop people. I could never do it. I just laugh too much. I can’t do it seriously.”
On the volleyball court, it’s a much different story.
Oteri, a Packer Park resident, has become one of the more intense competitors as a strong hitter on an up-and-coming Saints’ roster that has heightened expectations this season. Oteri received Third Team All-Catholic honors last year, which comes just a handful of years after picking up the sport.
Oteri began playing CYO volleyball for St. Pio Catholic Regional School in sixth grade and intensified her training two years later by joining Dynamic Volleyball Academy in Delaware County. She knew at that point she wanted to compete for Neumann-Goretti and possibly even pursue the sport in college.
“I used to play basketball but after eighth grade, I started to focus more on volleyball because I really enjoyed it,” she said. “I knew I wanted to continue with it in high school. I started working a lot harder at practice and focusing on what I needed to do from my coaches. It definitely helped me get better with hitting.”
She also formed better chemistry on the court. It helps that twin sister Bella Oteri is now the team’s setter after making the leap this summer from the JV team. Bella is on Neumann-Goretti’s cheerleading team and followed the footsteps of their older sister Gianna, who is a freshman at the University of Scranton. Twins Sammy and Bella now make up a third of the Saints’ starting roster.
The two have lived together in tight quarters before. They’re learning to share the spotlight on the volleyball court.
“It’s definitely fun,” Sammy said. “She can get on my nerves sometimes but I feel like we have a good sister connection, especially when she’s setting for me. I feel like we connect really well.”
Bella agrees. Although, she’s happy they share just one activity together.
“Playing with my twin sister is amazing. I love it,” Bella said. “But having one sport with her is enough. I wouldn’t want more than one.”
Bella said she sees a much more serious side of her sister when Sammy takes the court.
“Sometimes she can get a little overworked in her head, but we all know she’s so good,” Bella said. “Mistakes or not, we can always depend on her.”
Neumann-Goretti won four games in the Catholic League and qualified for the postseason for the first time in 12 years.
“I definitely think people underestimate us because we’re a school that’s known for basketball and football,” Sammy said. “I don’t think anyone thinks we’re as good as we’re going to be this year.”
The Saints are certainly on the way up.
“Ever since we got John (DeRenzi) as the coach, he just wants to win so much more,” Bella said. “And the same with (assistant) coach Nora (Cerone), too. We’re all really working as hard as we can. And we’re all here for the same reason. We all really want it.”
DeRenzi deflects the credit right back to his team. The Oteri sisters figure to be a big part of the blueprints of a successful season.
“They are both excellent young girls and have been since they got here,” said DeRenzi, now in his second year. “Last year, Sammy was varsity and Bella was JV and it was tough for them. But now they are back together and they have great chemistry together. I love having them on the team.”
Fun is contagious. Winning can be, too. The Saints hope both categories continue to spread.
“It’s really fun,” Sammy Oteri said. “We’re all really close not only on the court, but we all talk off the court and hang out with each other. It makes it a lot more enjoyable.” ••
