A-K Valley PIAA volleyball capsules: Tuesday’s matches

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 5, 2018 | 9:00 PM

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Class AAA

Knoch (22-0) vs. Elizabeth Forward (13-5)

7 p.m. Tuesday, North Catholic

Winner plays: Winner of Somerset/Dover on Saturday, site/time TBD

Coaches: Diane Geist, Knoch; Kameron Smith, Elizabeth Forward

Players to watch: Hannah Rowe, Knoch; Bri Spirnak, Elizabeth Forward

Service points: Knoch, coming off its second consecutive WPIAL championship, begins defense of its state title. The Knights have won 46 consecutive matches, their last loss coming to West Allegheny in the 2016 PIAA quarterfinals. Kerrie Fitzpatrick, a setter who sometimes rotates in as a hitter, is Knoch’s lone senior. She and junior hitters Skye Burkett, Kennedy Christy and Rowe play all over the court. Knoch has dropped three sets all season. Elizabeth Forward, which finished third in Section 3-AAA and began the WPIAL playoffs as the No. 10 seed, is making its first state tournament appearance. The Warriors upset No. 7 South Fayette and No. 2 Armstrong before losing to Thomas Jefferson in the semifinals. Spirnak, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, is a Division I basketball and track and field recruit. Leah Fournier also stands 6-1 in the middle.

Class AA

Freeport (16-3) vs. Redbank Valley (17-1)

5 p.m. Tuesday, DuBois Area High School

Winner plays: Winner of North Catholic/North Star on Saturday, site/time TBD

Coaches: Tom Phillips, Freeport; Matt Darr, Redbank Valley

Players to watch: Ally DeJidas, Freeport; Carissa Rearick, Redbank Valley

Service points: Coming off an upset loss to Frazier in the WPIAL semifinals, Freeport gears up to defend its 2017 PIAA championship. The Yellowjackets are appearing in the state tournament for the sixth consecutive season. The 3-1 semifinal loss kept Freeport out of the WPIAL championship match for the first time since 2014. DeJidas, a Mercyhurst softball recruit, plays all over the court. This marks Freeport’s ninth appearance in the state tournament since 2009. Redbank Valley beat Brookville, 3-0, to win the District 9 championship Saturday. The Bulldogs are making their first PIAA appearance since 2016, when they lost to Beaver in the first round. Top hitter Josie Rupp missed Saturday’s match after violating a school/team rule. Redbank Valley is riding a 17-match winning streak after beginning the season with a loss to Clarion.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Freeport, Knoch