Volleyball
Oakland Catholic’s Cigna earns spot on all-state volleyball team
December 13, 2018
Taylor Cigna has the ability to play the full rotation on the volleyball court. Where the 5-foot-9 Oakland Catholic junior ends up playing depends on what time of year it is. As a member of an Eagles' team that reached the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals this fall, Cigna served as
North Allegheny claims 2nd straight PIAA Class 4A girls volleyball crown
November 17, 2018
SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP -- Dandamp;#233;jandamp;#224; vu was the theme Saturday night. North Allegheny faced Bishop Shanahan in the PIAA Class 4A girls volleyball finals for the second year in a row. Although the location was different, as were several of the players, the result was the same as North Allegheny
Q&A with Pine-Richland volleyball twins Jiley, Maryellen Berger
November 16, 2018
This year's Pine-Richland girls volleyball team placed second in Section 1-AAAA, advanced to the WPIAL semifinal round for the first time since 2012 and ended up 12-5 overall. Several P-R netters earned Big 5/6 all-section accolades. Two seniors, Michaela Pettinato (outside hitter) and Maddie Schieder (libero), a Villanova commit, were
Future bright for Baldwin girls volleyball
Baldwin's junior varsity girls volleyball team didn't take a back seat to many opponents this season, as the Highlanders finished with a 9-3 overall record. andquot;The JV girls this year did exactly what was expected of them,andquot; said Jenna Snyder, Baldwin's fourth-year junior varsity coach. andquot;They learned what it means
Coaches, players preach mental toughness during 5-set volleyball matches
A fifth game in a volleyball match is one of the most tense, exciting experiences in sports. Every serve, hit and point is magnified five-fold. And momentum, already important in a match, is amplified. By the end of a fifth game, the athletes usually are exhausted. One team is ecstatic.
Brentwood volleyball trio honored by WPIAL
Three members of the Brentwood girls volleyball squad landed first-team all-section honors this year. Seniors Anna Betz (middle hitter/defensive specialist), Brooke McQuillan (outside hitter/defensive specialist) and Natalie Murrio (outside hitter/defensive specialist), who helped spark the Spartans to a second-place tie in Section 3-A and a WPIAL playoff berth, received first-team
North Allegheny volleyball expects another battle against Bishop Shanahan in PIAA final
November 15, 2018
Paige Miller remembers the amount of preparation the North Allegheny girls volleyball team put in before a match against Bishop Shanahan around this time last year. Film study, plus a Tigers' team firing on all cylinders, swept Bishop Shanahan to win its first PIAA Class AAA volleyball championship since 1994.
Knoch’s 48-match winning streak ends with PIAA loss to Warren
November 13, 2018
With one game separating it from a return trip to the state finals, Knoch girls volleyball ran into a Warren team Tuesday night that was determined to continue its historic run. The Dragons put an end to Knoch's reign as state champions and its 48-match winning streak. Warren, the District
North Allegheny returns to PIAA title match by topping Garnet Valley in semifinals
The North Allegheny girls volleyball Twitter account has pinned photo of the team celebrating its 2017 PIAA championship, complete with the golden ball trophy and a 15-foot long banner proclaiming the Tigers state champions. On Saturday, the Tigers will get a chance to update that photo. North Allegheny defeated Garnet
Defending state champion Freeport ousted in PIAA Class AA volleyball semifinals
There will be no PIAA championship repeat for the Freeport girls volleyball team. District 6 champion Bald Eagle Area kept its undefeated season going and put an end to the Yellowjackets' campaign with a 3-1 victory Tuesday evening in the PIAA Class AA semifinals at Clarion Area High School. The
Freeport wants fast, furious start in PIAA Class AAA volleyball semifinal
November 12, 2018
Freeport enjoyed fast starts in each of its first two PIAA Class AA girls volleyball playoff matches. It took control immediately with a 25-12 victory in the opening game of its first-round contest against District 9 champion Redbank Valley. The Yellowjackets didn't let up and breezed to a three-game sweep.
PIAA girls volleyball playoff preview capsules: Knoch vs. Warren, Freeport vs. Bald Eagle
Girls volleyball Class AAA Semifinals Knoch (24-0) vs. Warren (20-0) 7 p.m. Tuesday at Clarion Area High School Winner plays: Winner of Allentown Central Catholic/West York Coaches: Diane Geist, Knoch; Mike Dolan, Warren Players to watch: Skye Burkett, Knoch; Lydia Latimer, Warren Service points: Defending PIAA champion Knoch continued its
Knoch volleyball impressed with PIAA semifinal opponent Warren
A few minutes after Knoch finished its 3-0 victory over Dover in the PIAA quarterfinals on Saturday, Knights coach Diane Geist learned their next opponent, Warren, swept Thomas Jefferson earlier in the day. She was impressed. andquot;It sounds like this Warren team is pretty good,andquot; She said. andquot;For them to
Freeport, Knoch and North Allegheny girls volleyball teams set for PIAA semifinals
November 11, 2018
The Freeport, Knoch and North Allegheny girls volleyball teams all remain alive in their quests for back-to-back PIAA championships. They will play semifinal matches Tuesday evening. Freeport swept District 9 champion Redbank Valley in the first round of the Class AA tournament and scored a 3-2 win over WPIAL championBurkett’s big match leads Knoch volleyball into state semifinals
November 10, 2018
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Skye Burkett was down on her confidence and felt like she didn't perform well enough in Knoch's last couple of matches, but a meeting with coach Diane Geist at practice Friday helped boost her morale. andquot;She told me that I'm an amazing volleyball player and that team needed
Freeport volleyball team fends off North Catholic to advance
The Freeport girls volleyball team has been in many high-pressure situations the past several years. So the importance of staying composed through the ups and downs of a win-or-go-home match was not lost on the Yellowjackets players as they battled WPIAL champion North Catholic on Saturday afternoon in a PIAA
Freeport, North Catholic volleyball set for PIAA showdown
While preparing for Tuesday's PIAA Class AA first-round match against Redbank Valley, Freeport volleyball coach Tom Phillips stressed to his team not to look ahead to a potential quarterfinal clash with WPIAL champion North Catholic. The Yellowjackets heeded his advice and delivered a dominant three-game sweep over the District 9
Pine-Richland volleyball player Kristofic commits to George Mason
November 9, 2018
George Mason University is located in Fairfax County, Va., about 20 miles from Washington D.C. For Pine-Richland junior Grace Kristofic, it is the ideal setting for her to continue a stellar volleyball career. Kristofic made a verbal commitment Nov. 3 to attend GMU. andquot;I chose George Mason because I just
Thomas Jefferson girls hope for rematch after WPIAL runner-up finish
It boiled down to just four points. The difference between first and second place in the WPIAL Class AAA girls volleyball division was four points. Times three. Knoch, No. 1 in the Trib HSSN Class AAA rankings all season, defeated Thomas Jefferson, 3-0, at the WPIAL finals Nov. 3 at
