Pine-Richland, North Catholic, Freeport, Frazier Win WPIAL Girls’ Volleyball Titles

Monday, November 7, 2022

Moon Township, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) held its championship games in the sport of girls’ volleyball this past Saturday at the UPMC Events Center on the campus of Robert Morris University. There was a clean split between the first and second seeds among the champions, as Frazier (1A), Freeport (2A), North Catholic (3A), and Pine-Richland (4A) were victorious over the course of the day.

In 4A, Pine-Richland denied North Allegheny’s attempt at a three-peat by winning its fourth WPIAL girls’ volleyball title and first since 2010. The second-seeded Rams, who previously fell in two regular-season meetings to the Tigers, previously won in 2001, 2005, and 2010.

North Catholic did complete a threepeat, pairing its 2020 and 2021 titles in 2A with the 2022 3A crown. The top-seeded Trojans have now won four WPIAL championships in five seasons, previously raising the trophy in 2018, 2020, and 2021.

Freeport continued its recent success in 2A, winning its seventh WPIAL girls’ volleyball title since 2010. The top-seeded Yellowjackets were 3A champions in 2021, and had also won in 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2019 prior to their 2022 triumph.

In 1A, Frazier knocked off top-seeded Serra Catholic to claim their second WPIAL championship. The Commodores previously won their first in 2010.

The top four teams in 2A and 3A, the top three teams in 1A, and the top two teams in 4A have qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Girls’ Volleyball Championships, which begin on Tuesday, November 8. The championship games are set for Saturday, November 19 at Cumberland Valley High School.

4A RECAP [Box Score]
Second-seeded Pine-Richland outlasted fellow Section I team and top-seeded North Allegheny in five sets (25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-11) to win its first WPIAL title since 2010.

Pine-Richland (16-2) received a pair of standout performances from senior outside hitters Kaili Doctor and Katie Yanni. Doctor finished with a match-high 32.0 points, tallying 26 kills on a .267 hitting percentage, 18 digs, four service aces, and a pair of solo blocks. Yanni added a double-double with 16 kills and 16 digs. Freshman setter Isabelle Hoppe also posted a double-double (21 assists, 14 digs) and added three service aces, while junior setter Sofia Morse led the Rams with 24 helpers.

North Allegheny (18-1) received a near triple-double from senior setter Mia Tuman, who had a match-best 42 assists, 14 digs, eight kills, and six block assists. Classmate Ella Deeter paced the Tigers with 14 kills, adding 13 digs and five blocks (one solo) for a team-high 18.0 points. Senior middle blocker Maddies Fickess recorded a match-high 11 blocks (two solo) and six kills, and classmate Caroline Curran led all players in digs with 24.

Pine-Richland will host District X champion McDowell in the first round of the PIAA Championships, while North Allegheny will travel to District VI champion State College.

3A RECAP [Box Score]
Top-seeded North Catholic won its third straight WPIAL title and first at 3A by defeating 10th-seeded South Fayette in four sets (25-22, 25-20, 12-25, 25-22).

North Catholic (19-1) senior outside hitter Ally Feczko recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs, adding a block assist for a team-high 14.5 points. She was matched in kills by sophomore outside hitter Ella Koziara, who netted 13 on a .281 hitting percentage. Junior libero Alex Sepcic collected 12 digs defensively, and senior middle hitter Stephanie Lynch provided six kills and five block assists. Senior setter Sydnei Jones finished with 34 assists, eight kills, seven digs, five blocks (one solo), and two service aces.

South Fayette (13-6) received a match-high 21.0 points from senior middle blocker Ava Leroux, who had 17 kills, four block assists, and a pair of aces. Classmate Bella Bowers added 13 kills and 11 digs for a double-double, while freshman middle blocker Juliette Leroux hit a .667 clip with nine kills. Senior libero Livia Chambers led all players with 13 digs.

Four WPIAL teams qualified for the PIAA Championships with Thomas Jefferson and Greater Latrobe joining as the third and fourth seeds, respectively.

In the PIAA Championships first round, North Catholic will host Greater Latrobe, South Fayette will travel to District X champion Conneaut, and Thomas Jefferson will travel to District IX champion DuBois Area.

2A RECAP [Box Score]
After dropping the first set, top-seeded Freeport rebounded to knock off second-seeded Shenango in four sets (19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-23) to win the 2A championship.

Senior setter Cassidy Dell posted a triple-double for Freeport (20-2), finishing with 32 assists, 16 kills on a .382 hitting percentage, and 14 digs. Dell also tallied three of the Yellowjackets’ five aces for a total of 19.5 points. Freeport also received double-doubles from sophomore outside hitter Alaina Whitlinger (16 kills, 14 digs) and junior setter Grace Beach (15 assist, 11 digs), and senior libero Ava Soilis collected a team-high 19 digs defensively.

Shenango (16-2) seniors Kylee Rubin and Emilee Fedrizzi both were over 20.0 points, with Rubin’s 29.0 points leading all players. Rubin recorded 28 kills on a .325 hitting percentage, 13 digs, and two block assists, while Fedrizzi collected 18 kills, 23 digs, and a pair of service aces. Senior libero Ashley DeCarbo and junior setter Elyse Lenhart both netted 18 digs defensively for the Wildcats, with Lenhart providing 40 assists on offense.

Four WPIAL teams earned PIAA Championships qualification with Quaker Valley and Avonworth earning the third and fourth seeds, respectively.

Freeport hosts District X runner-up Corry in the PIAA Championships first round, and Shenango travels to District X champion North East. Quaker Valley will travel to District IX champion Kane Area, and Avonworth plays at District VI champion Phillipsburg-Osceola.

1A RECAP [Box Score]
Second-seeded Frazier remained unbeaten to begin the four-game slate at the UPMC Events Center, defeating top-seeded Serra Catholic in straight sets (25-20, 25-19, 25-19) to win its first WPIAL championship since 2010.

Frazier (22-0) received game highs in kills and digs from senior outside hitter Jensyn Hartman, who recorded 14 and 18, respectively. Sophomore outside hitter Grace Vaughn matched her in digs and added nine kills, while sophomore Gracen Hartman dished out 29 assists. Senior middle hitter Braylin Salisbury netted six kills at a .545 clip.

Serra Catholic (18-2) was led offensively by junior outside hitter Olivia Hussein, who had seven kills and two aces. Junior setter Emerson Trahan dished out 14 assists and sophomore libero Cassidy Trahan netted 11 digs and two aces.

In the third-place consolation match last Thursday at Bethel Park High School, fifth-seeded Bishop Canevin defeated sixth-seeded Mapletown in three sets to earn the final PIAA spot.

Frazier hosts District VI runner-up Homer Center in the opening round of the PIAA Championships. Serra Catholic will travel to District IX champion Oswayo Valley and Bishop Canevin plays at District V champion Conemaugh Township.

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