After busy tournament weekend, Shaler, Mars remain atop coaches’ volleyball polls

By: Michael Love
Monday, March 25, 2024 | 12:38 PM

Shaler captured the Meadville Tournament championship Saturday, and the victory strengthened the Titans’ hold on the No. 1 spot in the latest Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A poll released Monday morning.

North Allegheny battled state power Central York in the semifinals finals of Saturday’s North Allegheny Tournament. Despite coming up short in the one-game matchup, the Tigers remained No. 2 in the Class 3A poll.

Seneca Valley defended home turf Saturday with the championship of its own tournament. The Raiders, who topped Pine-Richland, 29-26, 25-20, in the finals, move up one spot to No. 3.

Norwin is down one spot to No. 4 in the Class 3A rankings. The Knights defeated No. 6 Butler, 25-20, in the championship game of the Norwin Tournament.

The Class 2A poll also was released Monday, and Mars remains in the top spot. North Catholic moved up to No. 2, while Latrobe dipped one spot to No. 3.

The Planets played at the Seneca Valley Tournament and made the semifinals before falling to Pine-Richland, 25-19.

Pine-Richland moved into the Class 3A top 10 at No. 9, while Hopewell made its Class 2A top-10 debut at No. 10.

Pine-Richland and Butler open Section 2-3A Tuesday, while Tuesday’s schedule also features five Class 2A section matches: Montour at Bishop Canevin and OLSH at Ambridge in Section 1, and Steel Valley at South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson at Seton LaSalle, and Trinity at Keystone Oaks in Section 3.

Every WPIAL boys volleyball coach has the opportunity to vote for each week’s top-10 polls.

The players of the week are selected based on submitted coaches nominations.

Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Boys Volleyball Top 10

Week 2

Class 3A

1. Shaler (last week: 1)

2. North Allegheny (2)

3. Seneca Valley (4)

4. Norwin (3)

5. Penn-Trafford (5)

6. Butler (6)

7. Canon-McMillan (8)

8. Hempfield (7)

9. Pine-Richland (NR)

10. Upper St Clair (9)

Out: Central Catholic (10)

Class 3A Players of the Week:

Luke Bockius, senior, outside hitter, Canon-McMillan

Zach Rosenwald, senior, setter, Shaler

Zach Malavite, junior libero, North Hills

Nathaniel Rugh, junior, setter, Penn-Trafford

Class 2A

1. Mars (last week: 1)

2. North Catholic (3)

3. Latrobe (2)

4. Ambridge (4)

5. Thomas Jefferson (5)

6. Gateway (7)

7. Seton LaSalle (6)

8. South Fayette (9)

9. Derry (8)

10. Hopewell (NR)

Out: Montour (10)

Class 2A Players of the Week:

Ryan Ceh, senior, middle hitter, Mars

Josh Lent, senior, setter, Trinity

Eric Bisignani, junior, setter, Latrobe

Paul Thompson, junior, setter, Hopewell

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Ambridge, Butler, Canon-McMillan, Derry Area, Gateway, Hempfield, Hopewell, Latrobe, Mars, North Allegheny, North Catholic, North Hills, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Seton La Salle, Shaler, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity, Upper St. Clair