North Catholic volleyball gets past Avonworth in WPIAL championship battle
By:
Saturday, November 6, 2021 | 9:12 PM
North Catholic celebrates beating Avonworth in the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
North Catholic’s Katie McNelly and Ally Feczko defend on Avonworth’s Victoria Huffmyer during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
Avonworth’s Sophie Culley defends on North Catholic’s Riley Warda during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
Avonworth’s Sophie Culley spikes against North Catholic’s Stephanie Lynch during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
North Catholic’s Alley Feczko blocks the shot of Avonworth’s Victoria Huffmyer during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
North Catholic’s Ella Koziara spikes against Avonworth’s Sophie Culley and Abbigale Holjes during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
Avonworth’s Margaret Goetz and Nora Kate Gavin (8) defend on North Catholic’s Riley Warda during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
North Catholic celebrates beating Avonworth in the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
North Catholic’s Sydnei Jones blocks the shot of Avonworth’s Margaret Colenbrander during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
Avonworth’s Abbigale Holjes sets against North Catholic during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
North Catholic’s Ella Koziara spikes on Avonworth’s Abbigale Holjes during the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Robert Morris’ UPMC Events Center.
After dropping the WPIAL soccer title to Avonworth earlier Saturday, North Catholic won the second WPIAL championship matchup of the day between the two schools.
The Trojans won their third WPIAL volleyball title in the last four seasons with a 3-1 victory over the Antelopes in the Class 2A finals at the Robert Morris UPMC Events Center.
Avonworth won an exciting opening set, 26-24, on a kill by Maggie Goetz, but North Catholic took the final three sets. North Catholic gradually pulled away in the second, winning 25-15 and followed that with 25-16 decision before wrapping up the day by edging the Antelopes, 25-23.
“It was tough, but it was fun to be a part of,” North Catholic coach Amanda Fetter said. “I think we started out with a change of venue at such an awesome place, and I know Avonworth always comes out with their kids ready to play.”
North Catholic (16-0) moves on to the PIAA tournament Tuesday against the loser of Saturday’s match between Harbor Creek and Corry at a site and time to be determined.
Avonworth is 14-3 overall — with all three losses coming to North Catholic.
“They’re a good team and they went on that run,” Avonworth coach John Skarupa said. “We came out in that fourth set with a lot of energy and we battled them tough. We had a game plan for the first match, then one for the second match, after that you’ve got to see what works.”
Avoworth will play District 6 champion Philipsburg-Osceola on Tuesday in the PIAA opener at a site and time to be determined.
The biggest Trojans lead in the second set was the 10-point final differential. In the third set, North Catholic took a 16-7 lead. Skarupa called a timeout but couldn’t stem the tide.
Avonworth took a 20-18 lead in the fourth set, but a kill by Katie McNelly, one of 16 on the day, was soon followed by an errant Avonworth blast out of bounds and the Trojans secured the victory, Fetter’s third in her four years as a head coach.
“After that first set, I felt fine. I could actually feel that they were, too,” Fetter said. “All I was saw was they weren’t concerned about it and were ready for the next set.”
It was Avonworth’s first trip to the WPIAL finals since 2011 when the Antelopes lost to Elderton.
“I think the turning point was that great rally we had in the fourth set when we got the 20th point, but they came on,” Skarupa said. “Let’s go to the PIAAs now and see if we can play them again.”
North Catholic also won a PIAA title in 2018.
Tags: Avonworth, North Catholic
More High School Sports
• Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football rankings for Oct. 15, 2024• Defending 4A boys champ Norwin expecting similar draw in WPIAL soccer playoffs
• Jackson Vacanti grows into big-play threat for Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer
• Ringgold completes investigation, allows football team to resume season
• High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 14, 2024
