Peters Township sweeps Pine-Richland to win 1st WPIAL girls volleyball title
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Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 8:36 PM
Peters Township celebrates with the trophy after beating Pine-Richland in straight sets during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Pine-Richland’s Elanyse Hernandez hits against Peters Township’s Angelina Williams and Alex Knox during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Pine-Richland’s Piper Vogel defends on Peters Township’s Angelina Williams during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township’s Maddie Carroll celebrates after a kill against Pine-Richland during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Pine-Richland’s Isabelle Hoppe hits against Peters Township’s Raia Lamping and Angelina Williams (r) during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township’s Alex Knox and Elle Gorman (r) defend against Pine-Richland’s Elanyse Hernandez during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township head coach Chris Kelly celebrates with the team after beating Pine-Richland in straight sets during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township’s Alex Knox hits against Pine-Richland during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township’s Maddie Carroll hits against Pine-Richland’s Piper Vogel and Valerie Menke (r) during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township’s Angelina Williams (l) and Charlie Tookey defend on Pine-Richland’s Isabelle Hoppe during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township’s Elle Gorman hits past Pine-Richland’s Avery Dougherty during the WPIAL Class 4A volleyball championship Saturday at Peters Township High School.
Peters Township won its first WPIAL girls volleyball championship Saturday, taking down Pine-Richland in three sets at AHN Arena.
Sophomore right side hitter Maddie Carroll spearheaded the Indians with 14 kills, notching the clinching point for each set, including the last two points of the first two sets.
Set scores were 26-24, 25-21 and 25-11.
“We watched a lot of film and saw what shots we’d have depending on who was in the front row,” Carroll said. “Whenever it’s game point, I just get excited to take a big swing for the team and really put the set away with game point.”
Sophomore setter Alex Knox also had 14 kills along with two aces. She commended Carroll’s performance, especially the lefty’s hard hitting.
“With big games like this, we really try to step up, especially Maddie,” Knox said. “She does an amazing job of finding spots. She plays smart and hits hard.”
Knox delivered two aces and two kills in key moments to help keep the momentum.
“Serving wins game,” Knox said. “You have to get the serve to win the point. It’s really important to be consistent back there.”
Carroll was impressed with Knox’s play. The setter was all over the court, setting up Carroll and others.
“Alex really commands the court as a setter,” Carroll said. “She puts up great balls for hitters. I know I would not be as successful without Alex. Whenever I see Alex hit, I definitely take away from what she’s doing and try to implement it with myself. I really look up to her as a player. Us three in the front line really put away points today.”
That third sophomore who put away points was middle blocker Elle Gorman, who tallied 10 kills.
Gorman was nervous at first but settled in and delivered.
“It’s definitely intimidating especially since we’re younger in these high-intensity situation,” Gorman said. “We have such a supporting team, and it doesn’t make it as nerve wracking. We can always rely on the support of our team to get us through that.”
Senior libero Kali Holmes is one of those leaders who helps steer the ship. Holmes mustered 14 digs.
“This win means everything,” Holmes said. “Every other year we fell short, so this year winning it all meant so much. I love this team.”
Holmes wanted to go out strong in her home court.
“I wanted to win for my team,” Holmes said. “I love this team so much, and I wanted to win for them. I wanted to do this for them. It was so exciting.”
Senior Kenzie Longlois was another key senior with five digs.
“All of the seniors are phenomenal, especially Kali,” Gorman said. “They coach us through the games and outside of the games too. They’re great role models, and they show us what we want to be going forward.”
Holmes was impressed with everyone’s composure, especially with the youth of the roster.
“The fact that they can take control of any game like that and help win the game like that is amazing,” Holmes said “I’m so excited to so excited to see what they’re going to do in the next few years.”
Pine-Richland’s leader was senior setter Isabelle Hoppe who put up nine kills, five digs and an ace.
Piper Vogel had eight kills and Elanyse Hernandez put up six. Avery Daugherty delivered three aces.
Peters’ Charlie Tookey notched seven kills and three blocks, and Raia Lamping delivered six kills and four digs.
The Indians won at the net, tallying 15 blocks to Pine Richland’s six.
The Indians caught rhythm early with Carroll and Knox bringing the boom and taking an early lead for the first part of the first set. Both had six kills in the first set.
Nonetheless, Pine Richland, down 13-11, rallied back and after a Valerie Menke ace and consecutive Daugherty aces, went up 18-16.
Peters continued to battle back and after a Knox ace, the Indians found themselves up 24-22.
Nevertheless, kills from Pine Richland’s Hoppe and Hernandez tied it up.
Carroll came up big getting two straight kills to take the first set for Peters. The Indians relied on Holmes’ seven digs, including two late digs while tied at 24.
Gorman and Knox kept pushing the Indians forward as they led all of the second set and were up 22-17.
Hernandez and Hoppe, however, continued to spark the Rams offense. A Hoppe ace cut it to 22-20.
At 22-21, the Indians pulled away after a big block and kill from Gorman. Carroll put away the last two shots to take the second set 25-21.
The Indians grabbed the third set as they controlled all the momentum and energy.
“It’s really cool, especially since this team is so young,” Knox said. “Just to see how much we’ve advanced in a year is just really cool. We love our seniors, so this was just great with one last run with them. We’re excited to keep this going into states. It’s going to be so much fun.”
Tags: Peters Township, Pine-Richland
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