Shaler shows strength in PIAA 1st-round sweep of Saegertown

By: Matthew Purucker
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 10:44 PM

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Shaler raced through the WPIAL Class 2A boys volleyball playoffs without dropping a set, and the Titans came into the first round of the PIAA tournament eager to keep that streak intact.

Despite a close third set, Shaler continued its impressive run.

Shaler resumed postseason action with a determined performance in the 3-0 home victory over Saegertown, 25-21, 25-9, 27-25, on Tuesday.

Shaler (17-1) played a clean game for much of the match, but it took some time for the home team to play its best. Once the Titans did, their polished play tilted the game in their favor.

“You’ve got to shake a little bit of rust off, not seeing in-game, keeping-score competition for a while. And then I think after you win a second set handily like that, for the guys to stay focused and come out in the third set is a challenge,” Shaler coach Paul Stadelman said. “And not only that, you know that Saegertown’s season and their backs (are) up against the wall, so you’re going to get everything they have.”

Through digs that kept play going, Shaler ground out several tough points in the first set. The Titans benefited from errors and miscommunication by Saegertown (12-4), but Shaler earned the 25-21 first set win by having better fundamentals.

Shaler performed its best during the second set. The Titans turned up the intensity with emphatic kills one after another that Saegertown could not stop. Setter Aiden Smith led Shaler in assists, and his play was crucial to the win.

“Our middles were putting the ball down in the second set. … For them to get set, you’ve got to make sure you have the passing in the backcourt,” Stadelman said. “Justin (Truong) and Nate (Myers) and Jake (Crissman) did a great job getting the ball to Aiden. And it gives him the opportunity to deliver those.”

Shaler won the second set 25-9 after exploding to an 18-4 lead marked by one of the many forceful kills from middle blocker Brandon Aryee.

“It’s just the consistency of the guys. We have six guys who can play, and they love this sport, too,” Smith said. “You know it’s good when you have six guys who all love the sport. … That also helps, especially with the game, especially leading into state playoffs.”

The third set had several lead changes. Saegertown got out to a 3-0 lead like the Panthers did in the first set, but it did not last long. Shaler tied it 8-8 and neither team could establish a run afterward to gain control. Neither team won on serve starting when the game was tied at 22 until Shaler won three straight points to claim the set, 27-25.

“If we had made a couple plays at the end of that set, then you never know what’s going to happen,” Saegertown coach Justin Johnson said. “We had a couple opportunities to make a couple defensive plays, and we didn’t. And we had a receiving error right there at the end. Those are the things that will kill you.”

Setter Jackson Scott led the Panthers in assists. Also, Cru Scott and Mason Allio led the attack for the Panthers, and every player will return for Saegertown next year after this loss ended its season.

With the victory, Shaler will play in the PIAA quarterfinals against Brandywine Heights on Saturday.

While this Shaler team is like the 2024 squad that won the PIAA Class 3A state title after a similarly dominant season, Stadelman is not concerned that the 2025 team plays the same way as it tries to win a second consecutive PIAA championship.

“They’re completely different, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The team last year was all senior-led. They had a lot of experience coming in. … This team hasn’t played their best complete game yet. There’s still a ceiling for them,” Stadelman said. “With all the youth and the young players that we have out there, they’re getting better every time they play. And I like to see that, because there’s still at least a week and a half left in the season, hopefully for us. That’s what our goal is.”

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