2024 PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball championship preview: Mars vs. Pope John Paul II

By: Bill Hartlep
Friday, November 15, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Pope John Paul II (23-0) vs. Mars (21-4)

3:30 p.m. Saturday, Cumberland Valley High School, Mechanicsburg

On the air: Streaming on PCN Select

Seeds: Pope John Paul II 1-1; Mars 7-1

How they got here: Pope John Paul II defeated Carver E&S, 3-0, in the first round; Southern Lehigh, 3-1, in the quarterfinals; and Big Spring, 3-0, in the semifinals. Mars beat Central Mountain, 3-0, in the first round; Hampton, 3-2, in the quarterfinals; and Beaver, 3-0, in the semifinals.

Coaches: Ryan Sell, Pope John Paul II; Tami Caraway, Mars

Players to watch: Norah Busch, Pope John Paul II; Cecelia Christy, Mars

PIAA titles: Pope John Paul II 2 (2022, ‘23); Mars 0

Notable: Pope John Paul is on a lengthy winning streak of 75 straight victories that has spanned into a third straight season. The two-time defending PIAA champions defeated North Catholic in 2022 and Hampton last season in the state finals. The District 1 champion Golden Panthers are led by junior MH Norah Busch, who is a NC State commit. She and outside hitter Maeve Gallagher were all-state selections last fall. In the semifinals, Busch had 13 kills and Gallagher added eight. … Mars is playing in the state championship match for the first time. The Fightin’ Planets have won 12 straight matches. The WPIAL champions are led by first-team all-WPIAL junior middle hitter Cecilia Christy as well as outside hitters Ella Nicotra and Rylee Wooldridge, who were second-team all-WPIAL picks. Senior outside hitter Lily Javor was a third-team honoree. Freshman setter Gabi Weidemann also has been an impact player this season.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Mars