Norwin girls volleyball keeps up the fight

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 14, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Norwin’s girls volleyball team was fighting for a playoff spot in Section 3-4A as the regular season winded toward a mid-October finish.

The postseason outcome, should it not work in the Lady Knights’ favor, won’t have anything to do with fading effort.

“The girls have been working hard every day to improve,” coach Mary Ellen Ferragonio said. “They are a great group with a strong work ethic, determination to continually improve and are gaining some confidence as we go.”

Norwin has size on the front line, which has fueled the attack. Basketball standouts Lauren Palangio (6-foot-1) and Ava Kobus (6-foot) have been strong at the net for the Knights, who were 3-7 overall and 1-2 in section.

“Volleyball and basketball are two sports that complement one another really well,” Ferragonio said. “Those players bring a lot to the team.”

Kobus said the team has a strong bond, which carries over from basketball.

“We always make sure we are working our hardest, and with all of the other girls’ help, we are able to excel at the net,” she said. “Volleyball is such a team-oriented game, we couldn’t do what we do without our passers and setters.”

Palangio said the team has settled in after a rough start.

“I think our strength this year is that the team has really good chemistry and even when we are losing, we don’t give up,” she said. “I think that the basketball girls have played a big role on the volleyball team because pretty much all of us are major contributors in both sports.”

Other basketball players on the team include Ava Christopher, Anna Fraser and Avery Brozeski.

The basketball team made the WPIAL and PIAA 6A semifinals last year, so the group also brings postseason experience and a knack for handling pressure.

A key win for Norwin came out of section as the Knights defeated perennial playoff team Latrobe, which plays in 3A.

“The Latrobe match was very close and gave the girls the opportunity to work hard through a close, five-set match,” Ferragonio said.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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