Volleyball coaches association releases WPIAL preseason rankings

By: Michael Love
Monday, August 26, 2019 | 12:28 PM

The Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association released its preseason top-10 rankings Monday, and all four classifications were rated.

All 120 girls volleyball coaches in the WPIAL were able to vote in the poll ahead of Friday and Saturday’s season-opening matches and tournaments.

Defending WPIAL and PIAA champion North Allegheny owns the top spot in Class AAAA, while 2018 WPIAL runner-up Baldwin checks in at No. 2.

In Class AAA, Knoch defeated Thomas Jefferson to claim last year’s WPIAL title, and the Knights and Jaguars enter this season ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

Knoch led the WPIAL at states with a semifinal appearance.

The final four in last year’s WPIAL Class AA tournament are the top four teams in the first rankings of the 2019 campaign.

North Catholic beat Frazier for the 2018 WPIAL title, but Frazier gets the nod over the Trojanettes for the top spot in the rankings.

Semifinalists Freeport and Serra Catholic are No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.

The Yellowjackets advanced the furthest in the PIAA Class AA tournament as they reached the semifinals before falling to state champion Bald Eagle Area.

Bishop Canevin hopes to defend its WPIAL Class A title, and it begins the season at No. 1 in the rankings.

Fort Cherry, a WPIAL semifinalist, is ranked No. 2, followed by 2018 runner-up Carmichaels at No. 3.

Class AAAA

1. North Allegheny

2. Baldwin

3. Shaler

4. Pine Richland

5. Oakland Catholic

6. Hempfield

7. Seneca Valley

8. Bethel Park

9. Latrobe

10. Peters Township

Other receiving votes: Butler, Canon-McMillan, Upper St. Clair, Penn Trafford

Class AAA

1. Knoch

2. Thomas Jefferson

3. Laurel Highlands

4. West Allegheny

5. South Fayette

6. Elizabeth Forward

7. Armstrong

8. Franklin Regional

9. Central Valley

10. Hampton

Others receiving votes: Montour, Kiski Area

Class AA

1. Frazier

2. North Catholic

3. Freeport

4. Serra Catholic

5. Beaver

6. OLSH

7. Seton LaSalle

8. Avonworth

9. Neshannock

10. Hopewell

Others receiving votes: Deer Lakes

Class A

1. Bishop Canevin

2. Fort Cherry

3. Carmichaels

4. Geibel Catholic

5. Greensburg Central Catholic

6. Beaver County Christian

7. Brentwood

8. Leechburg

9. Shenango

10. South Side

Others receiving votes: Vincentian, Trinity Christian, Burgettstown

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Armstrong, Avonworth, Baldwin, Beaver, Beaver County Christian, Bethel Park, Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Burgettstown, Butler, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Central Valley, Deer Lakes, Elizabeth Forward, Fort Cherry, Franklin Regional, Frazier, Freeport, Geibel, Greensburg C.C., Hampton, Hempfield, Hopewell, Kiski Area, Knoch, Latrobe, Laurel Highlands, Leechburg, Montour, Neshannock, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Oakland Catholic, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Serra Catholic, Seton La Salle, Shaler, Shenango, South Fayette, South Side, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity Christian, Upper St. Clair, Vincentian Academy, West Allegheny