Baldwin Beats NA Again For WPIAL AAA Girls Volleyball Title

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, November 8, 2015 | 7:19 AM

Before a standing room only crowd at Baldwin High School, the home-standing Highlanders won their second consecutive WPIAL Class AAA championship with a 3-2 victory over the North Allegheny Tigers Saturday evening.

It was a rematch of last year’s five-set thriller and again the Highlanders were able to outlast the Tigers in five electric sets. Baldwin claimed the title by set scores of 21-25, 25-18, 14-25, 25-22 and 15-12.

After splitting the first two sets, North Allegheny seemed to seize control with a thorough 25-14 win in the third set. Michigan State recruit Lauren Swartz picked up three kills in the set, on her way to a 14-kill performance.

North Allegheny had Baldwin on the ropes in the fourth set and led 20-17. The Highlanders displayed their poise and resiliency by rallying back to tie the set at 20-20 behind three straight kills from junior Maddi Sgattoni.  The Highlanders carried that momentum to a 25-22 win and forced a decisive fifth set.

Sgattoni, who finished the night with a match-high 18 kills, helped lead Baldwin to the win in set five, 15-12, and a second straight WPIAL championship. It is the 11th title in program history. Both Baldwin and North Allegheny have qualified for the PIAA playoffs which begin on Tuesday night.

Tags: Baldwin