Pine-Richland notebook: Volleyball team plans annual cancer benefit

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Previous Next

The Pine-Richland girls volleyball team will host its annual “Spike Out Cancer” event Oct. 3 during a home match against North Allegheny.

The event will start at 6 p.m. It has become an annual fundraising event since Angela Seman took over the Rams program in 2021.

Various activities will be conducted throughout the evening to acknowledge all types of cancers, to raise money to support cancer research and honor cancer survivors and to commemorate individuals lost to cancer.

Shorthanded Rams prevail

Pine-Richland was down its top three running backs, including leading rusher Mac Miller, due to injuries, but grinded out a 29-24 victory over North Hills in Class 5A Northeast Conference play on Sept. 13.

The Rams turned to sophomore Jalen Neals at running back and he scored a touchdown on a 10-yard run. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Strader played a prominent role in the running game as well.

Tanner Cunningham had a 15-yard rushing touchdown.

The defense contributed to the scoring as well. Jay Timmons had a 48-yard pick-six and the Rams forced a safety in the fourth quarter.

Senior kicker Grant Argiro connected on a pair of field goals from 23 and 37 yards.

Pine-Richland was 3-0 entering another conference game at Plum on Sept. 20.

The nonconference game at Seneca Valley on Sept. 6 was cancelled due to severe weather and will not be rescheduled.

Lapina wins section

Pine-Richland freshman Cassandra Lapina earned a Section 2-3A singles title with a 6-3, 6-3 win over North Hills’ Elinor Kim in the championship match Sept. 13 at North Allegheny.

Lapina became the second consecutive section champ for the Rams and the second freshman in a row after Caroline Prisk won last year. Prisk did not compete in this year’s sectionals.

Lapina won 10-0 over Lauren Cox of Mt. Lebanon in the first round, got past North Allegheny’s Audrey Zheng, 10-1, in the quarterfinals and defeated Moon’s Kiera Wise, 6-2, 6-0, in the semifnals.

Another freshman, Sonaya Arora, also entered section singles for Pine-Richland and won her first match, 11-9, over Mars’ Gianna Kampian before falling to Kim in the quarterfinals.

Lapina advanced to play in the WPIAL Class 3A individual championship, which was set for Sept. 18-19.

5 Rams golfers advance

Will Hilton, Mike Pifer, Owen Thompson, Clayton Kost and Roger Williams all met the target score of 80 to qualify out of the Section 2-3A boys golf individual sectional.

Hilton led the way with a 75, which tied him for third. Pifer shot 77. Thompson, Kost and Williams all hit the target score of 80.

All five advanced to the WPIAL tournament. The first round is Sept. 24 at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg. The final round is at Oakmont Country Club on Oct. 1.

Spacciapolli receives offer

Pine-Richland junior shooting guard Grant Spacciapolli has caught the attention of a west coast men’s college basketball program.

Spacciapolli received a scholarship offer from Pepperdine.

Pepperdine is in California and plays in the West Coast Conference with perennial NCAA power Gonzaga.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland