Gateway girls volleyball reloads in quest for another postseason berth

By: Michael Love
Sunday, August 24, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Erica Bosh likes the way her Gateway girls volleyball team has come together.

The second-year coach says the team, with a trio of returning starters and others ready to step up into bigger varsity roles, should be in the mix again for a spot in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.

Replacing a group of eight seniors, including six who were selected to the Section 5 first, second or third teams, has been a main focus, Bosh said, from the summer to the start of preseason practices, through a pair of scrimmages, and to the start of regular-season play Thursday at Plum and the section opener next Tuesday (Sept. 2) at defending section champion Indiana.

“It was tough to lose all of those seniors and starters, but we were able to do a lot with the girls in the offseason and continue what we’ve been building,” Bosh said.

“We were able to get a lot of work in and see the new girls who will be stepping into starting roles and new roles with the team. We had a lot of newcomers really coming consistently to summer workouts. That was a big thing. It blended well with who we have coming back.”

Bosh said freshman setter Jersey Rozier will get the chance to make her mark as a varsity starter.

Sophomore middle hitter Caleigh Kendeall, Bosh said, is doing some good things and will be featured in the varsity rotation after playing on JV last year.

“She is stepping up in the middle with the big losses there of (all-stars) Auroya (Brown) and Ashlee (Young),” Bosh said.

Junior captain Triniti Stevenson returns after earning all-section third-team honors last year at outside hitter.

“She has stepped up so much,” Bosh said. “She was there at almost every open-gym opportunity. She really worked hard in the offseason to improve her game. She played club and saw a lot of success with that. She is just a true leader on the court. She is such a diverse player. It’s hard to put her in just one spot.”

Stevenson, who is expected to also work in at setter, said she is ready to lead as a captain.

“We had a great offseason, and that helped form a good foundation for the season,” Stevenson said.

“We lost a lot of seniors, but with our training, we should be ready to do pretty well.”

Junior Lydia DiPalma and senior Malayah Young also are back after starting games last year. Bosh said they will be a part of what can be a deep varsity rotation.

“They are so willing to work with the younger girls and give advice and encourage them,” Bosh said.

“They are excited for what they can do to make this team successful.”

DiPalma, a defensive specialist last year, now is working at libero with junior Macy Kweder.

Young again will have a key role as a middle and right side hitter.

“They both played club, and they refined their skills and came into the summer ready to work and compete and contribute to this team,” Bosh said.

“For Malaya, it is her senior year, and she really wants her last high school season to be so successful. Lydia played club for me, and she did really well there.”

Kweder, Bosh said, played well in the playoff game against Beaver and has improved her game.

Bosh said there were good things taken from Gateway’s first scrimmage last Tuesday against Ambridge.

“It went well,” she said. “There were some growing pains. We tried a bunch of different things. All of the girls have been so willing that if I ask them to try different things or move to different positions on the court, they are always agreeable. They understand the team concept and what would be best to help the team win.”

Indiana, Greensburg Salem (section runner-up) and Derry (fourth) joined Gateway in last year’s WPIAL playoff tournament. The Indians, as the No. 7 seed, made it to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual WPIAL champion Mars.

Franklin Regional, West Mifflin and McKeesport also return hoping to improve their standing in the section.

“Indiana lost several key players, but they should still be pretty good, and Greensburg Salem should be strong,” Bosh said.

“I think we definitely can hang with them. I think it’s going to be between us three. West Mifflin has some good girls coming in. One of those girls I coached in club. The girls want to work hard because they know what we can accomplish. They have the goal of making it back to the playoffs. They know what it is going to take.”

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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