North Allegheny boys volleyball hungry to reclaim crown

By: John Grupp
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM

North Allegheny boys volleyball is back in its customary spot as the WPIAL team to beat.

After losing to Shaler in the past two WPIAL Class 3A championships, the Tigers are perched atop the 2025 Western Pa. Coaches Association preseason rankings and eager to see it through this time.

“It’s a hungry group,” third-year coach Dan Long said. “They’ve had a taste and feeling that disappointment. I think that’s good. That’s fuel.”

The Tigers, who went 13-3 last season, have a proud legacy to uphold. North Allegheny is the winningest boys volleyball program in WPIAL history with 16 of the past 21 titles, including five in a row from 2017-2022, before its recent runner-up showings.

But with returning all-state juniors Will Robertson, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, and Peter Bratich, a 6-7 middle blocker, and a deep, talented supporting cast, the Tigers are confident.

“We are really motivated because last year and the year before we had two shots at it and we lost to Shaler,” Bratich said. “But I think we gained a lot of experience from those two runs. I think we have a good shot this year to win it, so we are very motivated and ready to go.”

The biggest test will be replacing all-state libero Will Hahn (531 digs), second-team all-WPIAL setter Nicolas Carioto (717 assists) and third-team all-WPIAL opposite hitter Stone Gaertner (235 kills).

Juniors Jackson Failla and Elliott Swierczynski will handle setter duties.

“They are both outstanding athletes,” Long said. “They do so many things so well. Elliott has a really special jump serve that can create a lot of problems. Jackson can get all over the court and get to any ball. They both provide great skills that fit well together.”

Junior Emmett Morris, after biding his time behind Hahn, is the new libero.

They will work with an imposing front line that features Robinson (311 kills, 175 digs, 27 aces), Bratich (209 kills, 88 blocks), 6-4 senior outside hitter Matthew LaMay (80 kills, 27 aces) and 6-4 junior outside hitter Brendan Moore (125 kills).

Other Tigers include hitter Eli Braun and 6-3 blocker Garen White, both seniors, and junior opposite hitter Nathan May.

“Our hitting and blocking are definitely our strengths,” Bratich said. “We’ve got a lot of high jumpers and tall hitters at the net.”

Most of the players had busy offseasons with the Pittsburgh Volleyball Club Sandlot teams. The 17-blue squad, comprised of NA juniors, went 14-5 in its 54-team bracket at the prestigious Brickyard Battle in late November in Indianapolis.

“There are a lot of different guys that can do a lot of different things,” Long said of his front-line players. “(Robinson) is our most complete, consistent outside or opposite hitter, but we have five different guys who could be our best on a given night. We have that level of depth.”

The Tigers’ section is also deep. The top four teams in the WPVCA preseason rankings play in Section 3-3A. Behind NA in the poll are No. 2 Seneca Valley, No. 3 Butler and No. 4 Pine-Richland. Moon rounds out the five-team section.

Shaler, meanwhile, dropped to Class 2A during the enrollment-based offseason realignment.

North Allegheny earned a small measure of revenge in the 2025 opener, beating WPIAL Class 2A No. 1 Shaler, 3-0, on March 18. North Allegheny begins section play April 1 at Moon.

Long, a longtime NA assistant before being promoted in 2023, said while the Tigers are accustomed to being the WPIAL favorite, this year’s edition is facing a new challenge.

“It presents a different dynamic,” Long said. “Shaler has been the hunted team the last couple of years, and we’ve been that team knocking on the door. I think we are probably in that hunted-team dynamic now. … It’s unchartered territory for this group. But I think they have the poise, and I’m excited to see how they embrace it.”

Tags: North Allegheny