Bishop Canevin Wins Second WPIAL A Volleyball Title in Three Years

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, November 8, 2015 | 12:08 AM

The Cardiac Crusaders came from behind yet again and won a five set match to win the 2015 WPIAL Class A Championship, defeating Shenango 23-25, 25-23, 25-13, 23-25,15-9. 

Bishop Canevin jumped to an early 13-5 lead in the first set, but the Wildcats responded with nine unanswered points to take a 14-13 lead. Elizabeth Quahliero had three of her team-high five service aces in the run. A back-and-forth battle finished with Shenango scoring three if the last four points in the set to draw first blood in the match.

Bishop Canevin turned the tides in the second set. Senior Erin Cunningham, who missed the entire regular season with a knee injury, came off of the bench and provided a spark for her squad. The Crusaders this time took three of the last four points for their own 25-23 set victory.

The third set began the Julia Menosky show, as the senior registered three aces and three kills in the crucial third stanza that featured three separate five-point runs for Bishop Canevin.

The Crusaders also led big early in the fourth set, but the ‘Cats tried to show off a ‘Cardiac’ monicker of their own, rallying to tie the set at 17-17 and to another 25-23 set victory to force a fifth and final set.

But in the end, the strong net play for Bishop Canevin became too much for the Wildcats. The Crusaders scored seven of the last nine points, capped off by a block-kill by Alex Parraon match point to win the gold.

Shenango was led by junior Marie Gonsar’s 20 kills, followed by Jacqui Baker’s 12 kills and 6 blocks. Quahliero registered 9 kills and 10 blocks. The Wildcats will take on Cochranton, the champions of District 10, in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

Five Lady Crusaders registered double-digit kills, led by Bailey Mcadonald’s 14 winners. Parra, Cunningham, Menosky, and Annaliese Balog each registered 11 kills. Parra also tallied seven blocks and Menosky registered 7 aces. Bishop Canevin will play the district 10 runner-ups, Cambridge Springs, in the PIAA playoffs.

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