Coaches rankings: Shaler, North Allegheny, top 2 teams in Class 3A, battle for tournament title

By: Michael Love
Monday, April 15, 2024 | 10:22 AM

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Shaler and North Allegheny remain the top two boys volleyball teams in the latest Western Pa. Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A poll released Monday morning, and the Titans and Tigers finished last week in the championship match at the prestigious Koller Classic on Saturday at Central York High School.

The teams went to three games with Shaler coming out on top, 15-13, in the third and deciding game.

Norwin also stayed at No. 3, while Penn-Trafford (fourth) and Seneca Valley (fifth) traded places from last week’s rankings. Canon-McMillan, Butler, Hempfield and Pine-Richland are Nos. 6 through 9, respectively.

North Hills moved into the Class 3A top 10 at No. 10. The Indians posted their second Section 2 win last Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Pine-Richland. North Hills had recently scored a section victory over Seneca Valley.

Mars, Ambridge and North Catholic remain the top three teams, respectively, in Class 2A. South Fayette made a jump from No. 6 to 4, and Gateway moved up three spots to No. 5 after beating Deer Lakes and No. 6 Latrobe before topping Mt. Lebanon in a nonsection match Saturday.

Seton LaSalle, Montour, Derry and Thomas Jefferson round out the top 10.

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 submitted coaches nominations.

Western Pa. Volleyball Coaches Association

WPIAL boys volleyball

Top-10 polls — Week 5

Class 3A

1. Shaler (last week: 1)

2. North Allegheny (2)

3. Norwin (3)

4. Penn-Trafford (5)

5. Seneca Valley (4)

6. Canon-McMillan (7)

7. Butler (6)

8. Hempfield (9)

9. Pine-Richland (8)

10. North Hills (NR)

Out: Moon (10)

Class 3A Players of the Week

Dane Fazio, senior, right side, North Hills

Josh Reilly, senior, middle hitter, Hempfield

Dane Sayles, senior, middle hitter, Peters Township

Matteo Rotelli, junior, setter, Pine-Richland

Class 2A

1. Mars (last week: 1)

2. Ambridge (2)

3. North Catholic (3)

4. South Fayette (6)

5. Gateway (8)

6. Latrobe (4)

7. Seton LaSalle (7)

8. Derry (5)

9. Montour (9)

10. Thomas Jefferson (10)

Class 2A Players of the Week

Luke Fiori, junior, outside hitter, Latrobe

Karson Merlina, junior, outside hitter, Ambridge

Drew Palmer, junior, outside hitter, North Catholic

Declan Sipe, sophomore, setter/right side, Seton LaSalle

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, Butler, Canon-McMillan, Derry Area, Gateway, Hempfield, Latrobe, Mars, Montour, North Allegheny, North Catholic, North Hills, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Seton La Salle, Shaler, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson