WPIAL champion Greensburg Central Catholic avenges loss in PIAA 1st round

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 | 10:02 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

You might expect the Greensburg Central Catholic girls volleyball team to have a slight letdown after winning the WPIAL Class A playoffs Saturday.

And Centurions coach Erin Salas said the team was nervous ahead of Tuesday’s PIAA first-round match against District 9 runner-up Clarion-Limestone, a team that defeated GCC last month at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart tournament.

“I was nervous because we didn’t have a great practice on Monday,” Salas said. “But we had seen them before, and we watched a lot of film and we knew what was coming. I know during the pregame warmup, and when we are sluggish, we start sluggish.”

But the Centurions quickly recovered from the slow start and took control of the match, winning 3-1, by scores of 25-20, 18-25, 25-16 and 25-14. The win advanced the Centurions to the next round Saturday against West Branch, which defeated Berlin-Brothersvalley, at a time and site to be determined.

Clarion-Limestone jumped out to a 4-1 lead in Game 1. But Ashlyn Black, Eric Grace, Eva Denis and Evelyn Viehl took control of the net, and the Centurions rolled.

Clarion-Limestone raced out to a 5-0 lead in Game 2, but the Centurions rebounded to take a 14-11 lead. But the Lions, backed by a section of their fellow students rooting them on, charged to win the second game.

“What Greensburg Central did really well was just put a lot of service pressure on us,” Clarion-Limestone coach Ryan Troupe said. “We didn’t do a good job holding up in service. They were able to get us out of our system and keep us uncomfortable.”

Greensburg Central Catholic, behind a strong serving performance from Viehl and the play of the support staff dominated the final two games.

“After winning on Saturday, we were confident,” Denis said. “We knew what Clarion-Limestone had, and we had to shut them down. Whenever we get all our players serving well, we’re tough to beat.”

Black had 16 kills and Denis nine. Zilola Giaramita chipped in with seven kills.

“Zilola has been quiet at the net for us,” Salas said, “but when we needed her, when she needs to execute, she does.

“I thought our defense was phenomenal with Abby (Dei) and Brianna (Evans) picking things up left and right.”

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: Greensburg C.C.