What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 19, 2024: WPIAL’s finest clash in boys volleyball

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 11:15 PM

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The first of possibly three, maybe even four meetings between two of the top boys volleyball teams in the WPIAL takes place Friday.

Defending Class 3A champion Shaler hosts North Allegheny in a battle of unbeaten schools.

Both teams are 5-0 and tied for the top spot in Section 2-3A.

The two will face each other later this regular season at NA, and then possibly meet in the district and/or state playoffs.

Last year, the Titans ended the Tigers’ run of five straight WPIAL 3A crowns.

Shaler blanked North Allegheny in the title match, 25-12, 25-20, 25-19.

The Titans also swept the Tigers in the 2023 regular season.

Rare double sweep

Sweeping a section series in WPIAL baseball is very good, but what Pine-Richland is trying to do Friday is unheard of.

Following the Rams’ three-game sweep of their scheduled series with Seneca Valley — three one-run wins on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday — Pine-Richland tries to finish a sweep of Allderdice on Friday.

Due to the wet weather last week, the Rams and Dragons played only one of their three games with P-R winning, 8-1.

Game 2 of the series was played two days ago, and the Rams were big winners again, 13-2.

Now they will finally finish the series with Game 3 on Friday at Pine-Richland.

The Rams began the week with a modest section record of 3-1. If they can win their fifth section game in five days, they will improve to 8-1 in Section 1-6A with only three games left against undefeated North Allegheny on Apr. 29 and 30 and May 2.

Friday fights for first

There are seven WPIAL softball games Friday with first place or a share of the top spot at stake.

Two of the games feature undefeated section teams doing battle.

In Section 3-2A, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (7-2) will visit Bentworth (7-2) on Trib HSSN. Both the Chargers and the Bearcats are 5-0 in section play.

In Section 2-A, Carmichaels (6-1) will host Chartiers-Houston (6-1). The Mighty Mikes are 3-0 while the Buccaneers are a half-game up with a section record of 4-0.

• In Section 2-5A, Armstrong (8-1) travels to Penn-Trafford (6-3). The River Hawks and Warriors are tied for first place with Latrobe, all with 4-1 section records.

• In Section 4-5A, Trinity (7-3) is home to Connellsville (8-3). The Hillers are tied with Thomas Jefferson for second place with 3-2 section records, one game behind the Falcons at 4-1.

• In Section 2-3A, Mohawk (7-1) welcomes Central Valley (5-1). The Warriors are undefeated in the section with a 3-0 record while the Warriors are 3-1 and Ellwood City is 4-1.

• In Section 3-3A, three teams have one section loss and two of them meet when Ligonier Valley (6-1) heads to Southmoreland (9-1). The Rams are 3-1 in the section and tied with Yough, a half-game behind the Scotties at 4-1.