North Catholic moves up to No. 2 in WPIAL boys volleyball coaches rankings

By: Michael Love
Monday, April 29, 2024 | 11:45 AM

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Only three section play dates are left in the 2024 WPIAL boys volleyball regular season, and teams in Class 3A and Class 2A are making final pushes for section titles, playoff positioning and postseason berths.

The top teams are making their marks as there was little movement overall in the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association top-10 polls released Monday morning.

Shaler in Class 3A and Mars in Class 2A held firm to their top positions.

North Catholic bumped up one spot to No. 2 in Class 2A, and bumped Ambridge down one spot to No. 3.

The Trojans and Bridgers engaged in a classic five-set match last Tuesday, at Ambridge.

Each of first three sets were decided by two points, and North Catholic won the fourth set 25-15 to force the match to go the distance.

The Trojans and Bridgers then took the fifth set to the limit. North Catholic won 15-13 to take the match.

Montour, which exited the Class 2A top-10 last week, has returned. The Spartans swept Beaver County Christian last Tuesday before falling to Ambridge, 3-0, two days later.

The top four teams from each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, and the playoff committee is scheduled to meet May 10 to put the brackets in place.

The Class 3A and 2A tournaments tentatively are set to begin May 13

Every WPIAL boys volleyball coach has the opportunity to vote for each week’s top-10 polls.

The players of the week are selected based on coaches’ submitted nominations.

Western PA Volleyball Coaches Association

WPIAL Boys Volleyball

Top-10 Polls — Week 7

Class 3A

1. Shaler (last week: 1)

2. North Allegheny (2)

3. Seneca Valley (3)

4. Norwin (4)

5. Penn-Trafford (5)

6. Butler (7)

7. Canon-McMillan (6)

8. Hempfield (9)

9. Pine-Richland (8)

10. Central Catholic (10)

Class 3A Players of the Week

Matthew Mirilovich, senior, outside hitter, Seneca Valley

William O’Bryan, senior, setter, Canon-McMillan

Logan Pack, senior, right side, Baldwin

Doolin Stober, sophomore, outside hitter, Pine-Richland

Class 2A

1. Mars (last week: 1)

2. North Catholic (3)

3. Ambridge (2)

4. South Fayette (4)

5. Gateway (5)

6. Thomas Jefferson (6)

7. Latrobe (8)

8. Derry (7)

9. Seton LaSalle (9)

10. Montour (NR)

Out: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Class 2A Players of the Week

Nate Ball, senior, right side, North Catholic

Mark Swartz, senior, right side, South Fayette

Luke Vittorino, senior, libero, OLSH

Jaiden Wadlow, junior, libero, Thomas Jefferson

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Ambridge, Baldwin, Butler, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Derry Area, Gateway, Hempfield, Latrobe, Mars, Montour, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Norwin, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Seton La Salle, Shaler, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson