Frazier, Greensburg Central Catholic square off for WPIAL Class A girls volleyball title

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, October 31, 2024 | 9:17 PM

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WPIAL CLASS A GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINAL

3-Greensburg Central Catholic (16-3) vs. 1-Frazier (15-3)

11 a.m. Saturday, AHN Arena, Peters Township

WPIAL titles: GCC (2012, 2014, 2016); Frazier (2010, 2022)

Will the third time be the charm for Greensburg Central Catholic? Or does No. 1 Frazier just have the Centurions’ number this season?

That will be decided when the Section 4 rivals square off in the WPIAL Class A girls volleyball championship at 11 a.m. Saturday at Peters Township High School’s AHN Arena.

Frazier has defeated Greensburg Central Catholic twice this season: 3-2 at GCC on Sept. 5 and 3-1 Sept. 26 at home.

“It’s tough to beat a team three times in a season,” Frazier coach Mandy Hartman said. “Really, the games could have gone either way.

“It’s going to be a battle. GCC is fast and good defensively. (Ashlyn) Black is a game-changer, and (Eva) Denis is so athletic.”

Black, a junior left-side hitter, and senior all-around player Eva Denis are the Centurions’ top guns. Both played key roles as GCC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to stun No. 2 Eden Christian on Oct. 29. Frazier defeated St. Joseph, 3-1, in the other semifinal.

Down two games, the Centurions dominated the final three games for the win.

The Centurions seemed to be in control in Game 1, leading 24-19. But the Centurions took their foot off the gas, and Eden Christian scored seven consecutive points for a shocking 26-24 win. The Warriors carried that momentum into Game 2 and were comfortable up 2-0.

“We had a talk between games, and I told them that this was their goal to make the finals since their freshman year,” GCC coach Erin Salas said. “This was their senior year, and it’s do-or-die time. Either we finish it now and we go back home, and we’re done. So it was on them, and they did a great job.”

GCC changed its attack and started creating angles and forcing Eden Christian into mistakes.

“I was surprised after the first two games that they came back,” Hartman said. “But they are a good team and took advantage of Eden Christian mistakes, and Black took over.”

Frazier can counter will four solid hitters: junior Addison Schultz, sophomore Allie Monack, sophomore Addison Hiles and junior Maddie Salisbury.

“Most Class A teams have two big hitters,” Hartman said. “We have the luxury of four. It’s going to be a battle.”

Hartman said seniors Grace Vaughn (hitter), Gracen Hartman (setter) and Addison Day (server) played key roles in the win against St. Joseph. Day served nine straight points.

Salas said she is confident her team will give Frazier a battle.

“They are a good group of girls,” Salas said. “We made a slight change before Game 3, and we started to make plays. We had some great rallies during the game. We did not finish Game 1, but we finished the last three. We have put ourselves in a position to win it.”

GCC has won three WPIAL titles and Frazier two. GCC was PIAA champion in 2014 and 2016.

The winner will face the District 9 runner-up, and the loser faces the District 10 champion in the PIAA opening round Nov. 5.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Frazier, Greensburg C.C.