Busy final stretch helps Gateway volleyball prepare for WPIAL playoffs

By: Michael Love
Sunday, May 11, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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A couple of postponements created a busy scenario for the final week of the regular season for the Gateway boys volleyball team.

Four matches in four days, starting with a crucial Section 4 clash with Central Catholic and continuing with matches against Plum, Penn Hills and Fox Chapel, decided the Gators’ fate in regards to their goal of capturing the section championship.

“I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t physically and emotionally taxing at this point in the season to take on such a demanding schedule,” Gateway coach Phil Randolph said.

“While the expected signs and looks of fatigue were in place on the faces of the kids when I saw them in the hallways for school, we were spry and eager on the court, which is a testament to the work that these guys have put in both in and out of the gym since the conclusion of last season. I fervently believe that one of the big reasons that we have been able to make this program into a perennial playoff contender since I’ve taken the reins of this program is because we work year-round to ensure we are physically ready to perform in season.”

Gateway started the four-game stretch with three wins — a 3-1 triumph over Central Catholic, a 3-2 thriller over Plum, and a 3-0 shutout of Penn Hills on senior night at the Furrie Sports Complex.

That put the Gators at 7-2 in the section and clinched at least a tie for the section championship in their first season back in Class 3A after several seasons in Class 2A.

Gateway hoped for revenge against Fox Chapel last Thursday in a rematch of a 3-2 loss to the Foxes from April 15.

The Gators then were to find out their playoff fate Friday when the WPIAL boys volleyball playoff committee was set to assemble and release the Class 3A brackets.

The severe storms from April 29 knocked out power to several areas in the region, including Monroeville, and with Gateway schools being closed several days, Randolph said it created challenges for the team.

“We did miss a few days of practice last week before getting back to practice on Friday,” he said.

“Following the SATs on Saturday, we were able to get back in for a few hours and get a healthy run going. Even though it was only a few days of missed time, there was rust that needed to be shaved off before our marathon week, so this was certainly time well spent. We were able to take a closer look at what we needed to specifically tailor for each of our opponents.”

The game plan for the rematch with Central Catholic — moved to May 1 from May 5 because of the power outage — worked well as Gateway bounced back from an epic 31-29 Vikings win in Game 1 to capture the final three games — 25-23, 25-17 and 25-20.

“That match was a blast,” Randolph said. “If we matched up 10 times, you could have 10 different outcomes because there is a lot of parity with these squads. I loved that it was a clean, competitive contest. There wasn’t any trash talking or complaining about calls or drama from kids or coaches. It was just good, competitive volleyball between two squads with guys who love the game. I have a ton of respect for Grant Heckmann and the manner in which he runs his crew, and I have some imaginings that he and I have some similar manners in which we are both trying to play chess with hopes that others are playing checkers.”

Randolph said middle hitters Chase Lewandowski, a junior; and Donovan Shaeffer, a sophomore; senior libero Owen Echegaray; senior defensive specialist Ethan Nguyen; senior setter Tommy Nikou; outside hitters Darious Farrar, a senior, and Daniel Bozicevic, a junior; and junior utility player Tokyo Kubanychbekov, were able to execute the game plan with speed, mobility, power and efficiency.

Randolph also said junior opposite side hitter Aiden Coughran had a breakout game with his quick-strike swings.

“Aiden is apt to let his play do the talking, so I was super excited to see him have the spotlight deservedly shone on him following Monday’s big win,” Randolph said.

Gateway completed a sweep of rival Plum, but it wasn’t easy the rest of the way after the Gators seemed to breeze through a 25-14 win in Game 1.

Plum rebounded in Game 2, 28-26, and Game 4, 25-23, but the Gators prevailed, closing out the match with a 15-11 win in the deciding fifth game.

“Plum definitely was a different team (May 6) than they were when we saw them earlier in the season,” Randolph said.

“It was impossible not to come away from (that) night impressed with how efficiently Plum was able to have their outside hitters — Max Grice and Adam Smith — become threats from all six spots. They have some really talented and hard-working kids on that roster. For us to earn that hard-fought win, we had to hit reset a few times and take a few deep breaths so that we could get back on the same page. Once we restored our positive energy and made some strategic moves with regard to trying to exploit their blocks and serve-receive, we looked like our old selves again.”

Gateway celebrated senior night with a quick 3-0 win over Penn Hills with scores of 25-16, 25-13, and 25-16. Farrar, Nguyen, Echegaray, Nikou, middle hitter Brandon Maldonado and defensive specialist Cam Pawlowski were celebrated before the match.

“For the guys who’ve been here for all four years — Darious, Ethan, Owen and Tommy — it’s been like watching my own kid grow up,” Randolph said.

“All four of these young men have left big and lasting fingerprints on this court and this program, and while they will certainly be missed next year, they and their contributions to our ‘volleyball family’ will not be forgotten any time soon. And while I haven’t been able to spend as much time with (first-year seniors) Brandon and Cam, they’ve both been very welcomed additions to the squad, and it’s been really special to see how far they’ve grown in just a few short months’ time. I wish that they’d have been around for all four years.”

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.

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