North Allegheny girls volleyball nears unprecedented streak after claiming 8th straight PIAA title
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Saturday, November 23, 2024 | 11:01 AM
North Allegheny’s Molly Robertson scores against Spring Ford’s Elle Sossong during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny’s Keely McMahon-Regan blocks a shot by Spring Ford’s Lila Olsen next to Bridgit Murphy during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny’s Hannah DeLucia celebrates after scoring against Spring Ford during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
The North Allegheny volleyball team celebrates with the state championship trophy after defeating Spring Ford in the PIAA Class 4A final on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
The North Allegheny volleyball team celebrates with the state championship trophy after defeating Spring Ford in the PIAA Class 4A final on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny’s Mackenzie Jones hugs Molly Robertson as the Tigers celebrate after defeating Spring Ford in the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny’s Alicia Mokube scores against Spring Ford during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny’s Macey Casten celebrates after scoring against Spring Ford during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
The North Allegheny volleyball team celebrates with the state championship trophy after defeating Spring Ford in the PIAA Class 4A final on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny’s Alicia Mokube celebrates after scoring against Spring Ford during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny head coach Russ Hoburg watches from the bench with his assistants during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
North Allegheny’s Bridgit Murphy celebrates with teammates after scoring against Spring Ford during the PIAA Class 4A state championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Cumberland Valley High School.
The North Allegheny girls volleyball team often uses motivational sayings such as “pressure is a privilege” or “success is never owned, it’s rented, and rent is due every day.”
They may need to adopt some more slogans next year.
The Tigers next season will try to become the first team in PIAA history to win nine consecutive state titles in any sport.
When North Allegheny defeated Spring-Ford, 3-1, on Nov. 16 at Cumberland Valley in the PIAA Class 4A championship game to extend its remarkable streak to eight in a row, the Tigers joined an exclusive group.
Only two other programs have won eight consecutive PIAA crowns — Norwin girls volleyball from 1976-83 and Villa Maria Academy (District 1) girls swimming from 2011-18.
Southern Columbia football had a chance to join the club this fall, but the seven-time champs lost in the District 4 semifinals Nov. 8 and failed to qualify for the state playoffs.
North Allegheny volleyball, meanwhile, keeps serving up gold medals.
“It is special,” fourth-year coach Russ Hoburg said. “Because of the success of the team, we have an opportunity to continue writing our chapter in that history. … It’s not easy to get there and it’s really neat that we’ve been able to keep it going for as long as we have. I know next year’s seniors will want to have their moment to shine.”
The Tigers (21-1) defeated rival North Catholic, 3-1, in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game Nov. 2 — their sixth district title in eight years — and then marched through the state playoffs, disposing of four opponents in 11 days.
When first-team all-WPIAL sophomore outside hitter Molly Robertson spiked the winner against Spring-Ford for the 3-1 victory (19-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-16), the Tigers had completed a journey that wasn’t as smooth as some of the previous state champs.
“It was amazing,” senior middle hitter Bridgit Murphy said. “It was a little sad knowing that it was my last game, but I could not have asked for a better ending.”
The Tigers didn’t win any of their three in-season invitationals and suffered a rare regular-season loss, falling to North Catholic, 3-2, in the finale. But they went 7-0 in the postseason, winning their matches by a combined score of 21-5.
“We were very determined,” said Murphy, an IUP recruit and third-team all-WPIAL selection. “We were working really hard every single day in practice, knowing that nobody ever wants to be that team to end the streak. We were doing whatever we could to make sure that didn’t happen.”
The six-player senior class was part of a program that went a combined 83-4 with three WPIAL titles and four PIAA championships. Joining Murphy were first-team all-WPIAL outside hitter Macey Casten, setter MacKenzie Jones, middle blocker Isabella Huwar, defensive specialist Anna Bridges and outside hitter Hannah DeLucia.
“This group of seniors wanted to write their own chapter,” Hoburg said. “They are a really close-knit group. They know how to bring a ton of energy and competitiveness into practice.”
Hoburg. along with assistants Molly Tuman, Ally Hodnik, Ellie Proksell and Evan Proksell, will return a battle-tested group in the Tigers’ bid to make PIAA history.
The leader will be Robertson, a versatile 5-foot-10 star and one of the state’s top sophomores. She is joined by second-team all-WPIAL sophomore middle hitter Alicia Mokube and a trio of juniors — setter Keely McMahon-Regan, libero Reagan Riordan and outside hitter Geneva Adams. All five received some form of all-section recognition.
“People ask me, ‘What’s the secret?’ ” Hoburg said. “Honestly, we work really hard, especially the girls. They put a ton of time into it and care deeply about the program and doing their best. The secret is theirs.”
Dynasty league
Here are the most consecutive PIAA titles, in any sport
8 (tie) — North Allegheny girls volleyball 2017-24
Villa Maria Academy girls swimming 2011-18
Norwin girls volleyball 1976-83
7 (tie) — Harriton girls tennis 2004-10
Southern Columbia football 2017-23
Tags: North Allegheny
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