Mike Palashak’s return to Norwin is off to a great start.

Palashak, a 2003 Norwin graduate, made his debut as Knights head coach on Saturday and led the team to a title at the 15-team Norwin tournament.

“It’s great to be back at my alma mater,” Palashak said. “I’m really pleased with the team’s performance on Saturday.”

Palashak was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for the Knights. He was voted to the section and WPIAL all-star teams in 2002 and 2003. The Knights placed fourth in the WPIAL his senior year. Palashak was also a three-year starter at Mercyhurst University and still owns the school record for career blocks.

Palashak has coaching experience at both the high school and college levels.

“I served as an assistant at Carlow College from 2007-2009 and also served as an assistant boys coach at Fox Chapel during that stretch,” Palashak said. “I’ve also been the head women’s coach at Westmoreland County Community College the past three years.”

Palashak has also served as a PIAA official the past 14 years.

“I refereed a few of Norwin’s matches last year, so I was familiar with some of the players,” Palashak said.

Palashak takes over a squad that has six starters returning, including three players who were recognized on the Class 3A Section 3 all-star team last year: 6-3 junior middle hitter Ethan Painter, 6-0 sophomore libero/defensive specialist Jackson Genicola and 6-2 senior outside hitter Tyler Hussey. Painter and Genicola were voted to the second team, while Hussey was a third-team selection.

“When you consider the experienced players we have back, plus two key additions, our goal is to be a contender for the section title and make it to the [WPIAL] final four,” Palashak said.

Norwin was perfect in 11 sets at Saturday’s season-opening tournament. The Knights posted an 8-0 record in pool play, then beat Thomas Jefferson, 25-21, in the quarterfinals; Spring Cove, 25-15 in the semifinals; and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 25-18, in the title game.

“We played good ball control volleyball throughout the tournament,” Palashak said. “Our backcourt play was stellar and our blocking has significantly improved.”

Norwin was No. 4 in the Post-Gazette’s preseason rankings. The Knights faced No. 3 Hempfield in its Section 3 opener on Tuesday and pulled out a five-set victory (25-19, 19-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10). With that in mind, the two teams have switched spots in the WPIAL rankings.

Montour

Montour made a surprising second-place finish at the eight-team North Allegheny tournament, which was also held on Saturday.

After a sub-par performance in the preliminary round robin, Montour upset two schools from District 3 that are regular participants in the PIAA championships.

The Spartans opened the playoffs with a 25-18 win against Manheim Central, then faced Central York in the best-of-three semifinals. The two teams split 25-23 decisions in the first two sets. Montour claimed the third set, 15-12, to earn a spot in the finals.

“Making it to the finals at a tournament with so many strong teams was certainly not in my crystal ball,” Montour coach Colin Vitale said. “We put it together when it really mattered.”

In the title match, Montour faced three-time defending PIAA Class 3A champion North Allegheny and was defeated, 21-11, 21-10.

Montour entered the season with a veteran squad, which included nine players who were either starters or role players last season. The top two returnees are 6-3 senior outside hitter Andrew Feeley and 6-4 junior middle hitter Bryce Lizanich. Feeley was a WPIAL Class 2A second-team all-star last year, while Lizanich was a third-team selection.

“We’ve built the team around Andrew and Bryce,” Vitale said.

Montour qualified for the WPIAL tournament last year and were defeated in the first round. The Spartans will find it tougher to qualify this year.

“Five teams from each section qualified last year due to COVID-19,” Vitale said. “This year, only four teams qualify. We have five strong teams in Section 1, so one will be left in the cold when the playoff begin.”

Shaler

Shaler won the 12-team Meadville tournament, also held on Saturday. The Titans placed second in their preliminary pool with a 7-3 record.

“I used several lineups during pool play,” Shaler coach Paul Stadelman said. “We have a bunch of very capable players on this team and I was trying to find our best lineup for the playoff round.”

Shaler posted three wins in the playoff round. The Titans defeated Erie McDowell, 25-9, in the quarterfinals; Cochranton, 25-12, in the semifinals; and Meadville, 25-21, in the title game.

“I’m very pleased with our performance on Saturday,” Stadelman said. “We open match play with two very strong opponents this week.”

Shaler, ranked No. 5 in the Post-Gazette’s preseason rankings, faced Penn-Trafford in a non-section match on Monday and posted a 3-0 victory. The Titans play host to defending WPIAL and PIAA champion North Allegheny on Thursday.

Coaching changes

Palashak is one of six new coaches in the WPIAL. The others are Chris Rotelli at Pine-Richland, Grant Heckmann at Central Catholic, Kody Putirka at Deer Lakes, Jordan Zange at Keystone Oaks and Alexis Ritson at Beaver County Christian.

Putirka is a Deer Lakes graduate.

“I’ve been with the program since I graduated from Deer Lakes in 2013,” Putirka said. “I’ve worked with all the players on this team, so the transition to head coach has been relatively easy. Our goal is to grow as a team with hopes of making the playoffs this year and in the years to come.”

RANKINGS

WPIAL Class 3A

1. North Allegheny

2. Seneca Valley

3. Hempfield

4. Norwin

5. Shaler

WPIAL Class 2A

1. Seton LaSalle

2. O.L. Sacred Heart

3. North Catholic

4. Hopewell

5. Montour

First Published: March 31, 2022, 2:00 p.m.