Frazier Claims First WPIAL Girls Class A Volleyball Gold

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, November 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM

If you were passing through the town of Perryopolis, Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon and you were wondering where all the residents were, I can tell you that a very large number of them were in Murrysville supporting their Frazier Commodores girls volleyball team. The top seeded and undefeated Commodores (15-0) and the Section 5 A Champions were playing the second seeded and unbeaten Bishop Canevin Crusaders (17-0) and the Section 6 A Champions.

In addition, both of these outfits were the top two ranked WPIAL Class A girls volleyball teams in the state of Pennsylvania according to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. Frazier being ranked at number 5 and Bishop Canevin at number 8.

The two squads had been on a collision course throughout these playoffs and each team lived up to their seeding by the WPIAL Volleyball steering committee. Frazier had disposed of each of their (3) previous playoff opponents in very efficient fashion sweeping #16 seed Brentwood in the first round, ninth seeded Shenango in the quarterfinals and fifth seeded Bentworth in the semifinals all by 3 sets to zero scores. Bishop Canevin had performed nearly identically on their quest to the finals as they beat 15-seeded Seton-LaSalle in the first round and number seven seed Avonworth in the quarterfinal round in three sets before knocking off third seeded Elderton, 3-1 in the semifinals. Thus, the stage appeared to be set for a very competitive finals match.

It did not tun out that way. With most of the Frazier area community and a huge student body turnout dressed in red standing squarely behind them throughout the match, the red and black clad Commodores disposed of the Bishop Canevin Crusaders just like they have dispatched ALL of their foes this season, in three sets in winning their first girls volleyball WPIAL Title by scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-18. Once again this Frazier team's size, depth and athleticism proved to be too much for the Crusaders to slow down. Frazier is an experienced and extremely talented group led by senior, 5'9" setter/outside hitter and a returning "Terrific 21" Girls Volleyball Program All-Star in Amanda Pato, who can do it all on the hardcourt. Then comes powerful senior, 5'11" right side, Gena Keebler who brings the thunder and the very versatile senior, 5'8" outside hitter, Savannah Prue who plays even longer than her height and plays well in both the front row and in the back. This year's Commodores team was further bolstered by junior, 6'0" outside hitter, Megan Manack who missed most of her sophomore season with a knee injury and this year's edition of the Commodores was loaded.

Frazier scored the first two points of game one and never looked back. The Commodores held leads of between (6) and (9) points throughout the majority of the first set at (12-3), (17-8), (18-9), (19-13), (22-16) and (23-17) before a kill by Amanda Pato ended the first set for a 25-18 Commodores victory. Bishop Canevin played a little better in game number two as they got their first lead of the match at (2-0) and had their largest lead in the entire match at (6-1) and had their last lead of the set at (7-6) before the Commodores reclaimed their advantage at (9-7) following a (5) consecutive point Frazier run. The Commodores moved out to a (16-11) advantage only to see the Crusaders tighten the set up by closing their deficit to three points at (19-16). Another Frazier (4) point run pushed their lead to seven points (23-16) and that was pretty much that for game two as the Commodores took a two games to none advantage with a 25-18 win.

Their were plenty of smiles in both the Frazier team huddle between sets two and three as well as a roaring Commodores crowd as game three got underway. Bishop Canevin's last lead of the match occurred at (3-2) before Frazier took over the lead at (4-3) and would never trail again. There would be two ties in game three at (3-3) and (7-7) before a Commodores three point run including an ace by Gena Keebler that gave the Commodores an advantage at (10-7). A termination by Pato and an ace by Prue moved Frazier ahead to (12-9). The Commodores had their largest consecutive point run of the match of (7) points to go ahead (23-13) and that finished off the Crusaders as Frazier won game three, 25-18 and completed their perfect post-season run of sweeping all of their opponents.

Commodores head coach Mandy Hartman said that the team would be feted on Saturday night when they got back to Perryopolis complete with the fire truck escort into town. It is most deserving for a group of student-athletes who kept their eye on the prize this season. They are a very out-going group of players who are a pleasure to be around and now they have the gold medals around their necks to show that they indeed are the best WPIAL Class A girls volleyball team in 2010.

Both the Commodores (16-0) and the Crusaders (17-1) advance to the PIAA playoffs that begin next Saturday, November 13th. Frazier will open the PIAA playoffs in Pool D along with Elderton and the District 9 Champion and the second place team from District 10. Bishop Canevin will begin PIAA play in Pool C along with the District 6 Champion, District 10 Champion and the second place finisher from District 9.

Tags: Avonworth, Bentworth, Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Elderton, Frazier, Shenango