Fox Chapel Wins WPIAL Boys Volleyball Class AAA Title

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, May 23, 2015 | 1:20 AM

In 2006, Fox Chapel won the WPIAL Boys AAA Volleyball Championship. Since then, nobody not named “North Allegheny” has been able to accomplish that feat.  Until Friday night.

No. 1 Fox Chapel used massive net play and tenacious serving to defeat No. 2 Seneca Valley 3-1 (25-13, 25-11, 20-25, 25-21) to claim their second WPIAL Boys AAA Volleyball Championship on Friday night at Baldwin High School.

The win officially ends the run of North Allegheny, which had won eight consecutive titles and eleven of the last 12, with Fox Chapel in 2006 being the lone exception. The Tigers bowed out in the 2015 Quarterfinals to Plum.

Through the first two sets, it looked as if the section rivals, who split their regular season meetings, were at polar ends of the competition. The Foxes would not trail through the first two sets, capitalizing on several Raider mistakes and building big, early leads.

In the first set, Andrew Tublin would set the tone for Fox Chapel, recording six of his 12 kills and bolstering a massive defensive front the would give Seneca Valley fits throughout the night. The Foxes would take the first set 25-13.

The second set would play out similarly to the first, with Fox Chapel cruising to a 25-11 victory behind three kills from Tublin and Jaysen Zaleski apiece, as well as nine unforced errors by Seneca Valley.

However, down 2-0, Seneca Valley would start the third game well, jumping out to an 18-12 lead. In the frame, the Raiders would only commit four unforced errors, while Fox Chapel committed nine, their highest number of the night. Tyler Hermann would lead the way with four of his seven kills, while Taylor Matthews would provide a steady hand, contributing two of his team-high eight kills. Seneca Valley would take the set 25-20, cutting the Foxes’ lead to 2-1 in the match.

With momentum having shifted to Seneca Valley, the Raiders would jump out to an early 4-1 lead in the fourth and final set. But the Foxes would fight back and, combined with a gritty effort from Seneca Valley, force six ties and five lead changes in the set. However, Fox Chapel middle blocker Jordan Disanti would take over, recording five of his match-high 13 kills, including several thunderous blocks. His efforts, combined with 11 Raiders errors, would propel the Foxes to a 25-21 set win and a 3-1 championship match victory.

In addition to Disanti (13 kills), Tublin (12 kills) and Zaleski (10 kills), Ben Depellegrini would add nine kills and five of Fox Chapel’s ten aces on the night.

Seneca Valley only recorded two aces throughout the game and were left by Matthews (8 kills), Tyler Hermann (7 kills), Austin Hermann (6 kills) and John Dolfi (6 kills).

Fox Chapel, ranked No. 1 in Pennsylvania, will be the top team from District 7 in the PIAA Playoffs, while Seneca Valley and Bethel Park will join the Foxes in the state tournament. Bethel Park defeated Plum 3-1 in the WPIAL AAA Consolation match.

Tags: Fox Chapel