It has been 14 years since a girls volleyball team won three consecutive WPIAL titles.
Three teams have a chance to match that accomplishment in the 2019 season, which begins Aug. 30.
North Allegheny, Knoch and Bishop Canevin have won back-to-back WPIAL titles. All three enter the season with hopes of claiming a third consecutive title.
Hopewell and Farrell were the previous teams to match that accomplishment. Hopewell won four consecutive titles from 2002-05, while Farrell won six titles in a row from 1999-2004.
Knoch coach Diane Geist summed it up perfectly. “We have the target on our back again. We have the talent to win another title, but it’s never easy.”
Geist, now in her 34th season, guided the Knights to their first WPIAL title in 2017 with a senior-dominated squad. Last year’s team had only one senior. With that in mind, the Knights have all but one player back to defend their Class 3A title.
“Our setter for the past three years graduated,” said Geist. “Kerrie [Fitzpatrick] was the glue that held our team together. Replacing her will not be easy.”
Geist has switched to a two-setter offense that has 5-3 junior Morgan Jack as the primary setter. Skylar Burkett, a 5-9 senior, will take over the setting duties when Jack rotates to the front row.
Knoch’s lineup features two hitters who have been voted to the PVCA All-State team the past two seasons: Hannah Rowe, a 6-1 senior outside hitter, and Kennedy Christy, a 5-10 middle hitter.
“Hannah and Kennedy are two of the best hitters in the WPIAL,” Geist said. “And both have plenty of WPIAL and PIAA playoff experience.”
Class 4A
North Allegheny enters the season with a 47-match win streak. The Tigers have gone undefeated the past two years in Class 4A and were matched by the Tigers boys team, who have won 46 consecutive matches.
“We are the first high school in PIAA volleyball history to have both programs go undefeated two years in a row,” North Allegheny girls coach Heidi Miller said. “That’s 93 consecutive wins between the two programs. Our goal is to keep that streak alive and win WPIAL and PIAA titles for the third straight year.”
North Allegheny has six starters returning, including three PVCA All-Stars: 5-7 senior setter/outside hitter Abby Miller, 6-0 junior setter Paige Morningstar and 5-10 junior outside hitter Paige Miller. Abby Miller is a two-time PVCA All-Star.
“We should have the best serving and ball handling of any team in the WPIAL,” said Heidi Miller, the mother of Abby and Paige. “Our setting, passing and serving will carry us.”
Paige Miller is one of the best hitters in the WPIAL, but begins the season as a back row player.
“Paige has a back and neck issue that has been a problem for a while,” Heidi Miller said. “She will be playing in the back row until she’s allowed to hit. This will give us a chance to play some of our younger players.”
Class 2A
North Catholic is the only returning champion that is not ranked No. 1 in the Post-Gazette’s preseason rankings. The Trojans won the Class 2A title last year, but lost five of their top 11 players to graduation, including setter Olivia Kaminski.
“Frazier has to be considered the favorite,” said North Catholic coach Amanda Fetter, referring to the team her squad faced in the WPIAL title match. “Frazier has the strongest returning group of players.”
Frazier did not have a senior on last year’s squad. The Commodores have all nine girls who played in the title match returning, including Skye Eicher, a 5-8 senior outside hitter who has been recognized on the PVCA All-State team the past two years.
“We have a senior-laden team that has a lot of playoff experience in volleyball and softball,” said Frazier coach Mandy Hartman, also referring to the Commodores softball team, which placed second in the WPIAL the past two seasons and won a PIAA title in June. “These girls have ice in their veins. They know what it takes to win.”
North Catholic’s squad features Dominique Felix, a 6-0 senior outside hitter who is a two-time PVCA All-Star. Her first appearance on the all-state team was in Class 4A for Oakland Catholic.
Class 1A
Bishop Canevin has won four WPIAL Class 1A titles in the past six years, including the past two years. The Crusaders have played in the WPIAL title match seven consecutive years.
“Every year we have the same goals, win our section, get to the WPIAL finals, and make a run in the PIAA tournament,” Bishop Canevin coach Kevin Walters said. “We have a team with experienced seniors and some younger girls who will get their opportunity to play this year. If we can stay away from injuries, we have a chance to reach our goals.”
The Crusaders lineup features two PVCA All-Stars: Alexa Malloy, a 5-7 senior opposite, and Maddie Maziarz, 5-8 senior setter. Malloy is a two-time PVCA All-Star.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
Class 4A
1. North Allegheny
2. Baldwin
3. Hempfield
4. Seneca Valley
5. Shaler
Class 3A
1. Knoch
2. Thomas Jefferson
3. West Allegheny
4. Laurel Highlands
5. South Fayette
Class 2A
1. Frazier
2. North Catholic
3. Freeport
4. Serra Catholic
5. Beaver
Class 1A
1. Bishop Canevin
2. Fort Cherry
3. Carmichaels
4. Geibel Catholic
5. Greensburg C.C.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Class 4A
Abby Miller, North Allegheny (5-7, Sr., OH)
Paige Miller, North Allegheny (5-10, Jr., OH)
Paige Morningstar, North Allegheny (6-0, Jr., S)
Allison Murray, Baldwin (6-0, Sr., OH)
Sarah White, Seneca Valley (5-11, Jr., S)
Class 3A
Kennedy Christy, Knoch (5-10, Sr., MH)
Leah Fournier, Elizabeth Forward (5-10, Sr., OH)
Tanner Patrick, Thomas Jefferson (5-6, Sr., L)
Hannah Rowe, Knoch (6-1, Sr., OH)
Maddie Wheeler, Laurel Highlands (5-5, Jr., S)
Class 2A
Skye Eicher, Frazier (5-8, Sr., OH)
Elizabeth Feczko, North Catholic (5-6, Jr., L)
Dominique Felix, North Catholic (6-0, Sr., OH)
Makenna Gavin, Avonworth (5-11, Sr., OH)
Lauren Lampus, Freeport (5-8, Sr., OH)
Class 1A
Taylor Christopher, Carmichaels (6-0, Sr., MH)
Jadyn Hartner, Fort Cherry (5-5, Sr., S)
Alexa Malloy, Bishop Canevin (5-7, Sr., RH)
Maddie Maziarz, Bishop Canevin (5-8, Sr., S)
Shannon Watkins, Geibel Catholic (5-5, Jr., S)
First Published: August 23, 2019, 10:15 a.m.
