Western Pa. volleyball talent on display at 3rd annual Queens of the ‘Burgh event

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, August 10, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Foxes proved to be champions at the third annual Queens of the ‘Burgh girls volleyball tournament.

“This was our best year yet,” said Avonworth coach John Skarupa, who founded the event. “We had seven teams, 64 players. There were 37 high schools and 10 clubs represented. It was a great weekend that is meant to elevate Pittsburgh volleyball regardless of where you play.

“I’m excited to celebrate the third year of Queens of the ‘Burgh, an idea that blossomed into what I truly believe is the highlight of the year for girls volleyball. High school, club and recruiting can create immense pressure for these young women, and Queens was designed to break free from that stress — shining a spotlight on the extraordinary talent in our region while creating a positive and empowering environment through competition.”

The championship match Aug. 2 at All-American Field House in Monroeville featured the No. 4 Foxes against the No. 6 Cavaliers.

The Foxes earned a thrilling 28-26 victory, but the Cavs fought back the entire game. They were down 16-8 and rallied to take a late lead. The Foxes then slyly pulled away at the end.

“We did a round robin pool play format and then went into the playoff bracket,” Skarupa said. “We had amazing refs from the local chapter who did an excellent job.

“We also had numerous coaches show up for recruiting and many more who are checking out our footage. We record and stat every match through the Hudl/Balltime platform.”

The Foxes were led by St. Joseph senior Kate Giannetta, a 5-foot-7 setter who landed her team’s Most Valuable Queen award.

Other players for the Foxes were Eden Christian Academy’s Ava Arnold, a 5-9 outside hitter, South Fayette’s Kylee Partridge, a 5-4 defensive specialist, Butler’s Ashlan Tosadori, a 5-11 middle hitter, Hopewell’s Mikayla Kurta, a 6-1 middle hitter, Morgantown’s Kelly Ryan, a 5-10 right-side hitter, North Allegheny’s Alicia Mokube, a 5-10 middle hitter, Beaver’s Aubrey Bumblis, a 5-8 defensive specialist, and Mars’ Rylee Wooldridge, a 5-8 outside hitter,

Elena Arnold, Ava’s older sister, coached the championship squad, one of four teams that posted 2-4 records in round robin play. The Knights finished first with a 6-0 mark.

“I am so proud of the group of girls I had the chance to coach,” Arnold said. “We started off the day not so hot, going 0-3 to open pool play. I kept reminding the girls to view these moments not as disappointments but moments we can learn from. Since every team made the playoffs, we had no stress.

“The girls really started to click in the fourth game, and we won that one decidedly as well as the fifth. These girls looked like they had been playing together for months when the truth was, I drafted them together just the night before. We lost our sixth game to the undefeated No. 1 seed, the Knights, coached by Laney Wilson, my good friend and former roommate.”

Pool play began for the Foxes with a rematch against the Princesses, who defeated Arnold’s squad in the first match of the day.

“I really saw the team light up with a different energy this game,” Arnold said. “I had been coaching them all day to find the right balance of confidence without cockiness — knowing you’re talented and ready to show it but still respecting your opponent and seeking to be better. We then won out the rest of the day, defeating the Princesses and Knights for the first time and finally the Cavaliers in the championship in a nail-biter.

“I think what truly brought us to win was the humility and willingness to grow from each girl. Those nine girls are not just great athletes; they are great people. I knew I wanted to draft and coach a team of young women who are great sports and respectful to all they interact with. And those traits allowed them to connect with one another, trust the process and eventually win it all.”

Arnold, who is 21 and graduated from Eden Christian in 2022, started her collegiate volleyball career at Saint Francis. She transferred to Rollins College, where she is a 6-1 junior right-side hitter.

At Eden, she was a four-year varsity letter winner, two-time all-WPIAL second-team selection and three-time first-team all-section pick. She also was an AAU Academic All-American and an Under Armour All-American nominee.

“It was awesome for me to have some connections to the girls on my team, such as having my sister Ava as one of my players,” Arnold said. “Also, Kate Giannetta, who was our setter and tournament MVP, plays at a high school I used to play in section, and it is always fun for me to see big talent coming out of small single-A schools because we have to work so much harder to be noticed.

“This experience really solidified my love for coaching this sport. It is something I’ve always considered but now it gives me excitement to explore the other side of the game once I graduate.”

The Cavaliers were sparked in the two-event by Shaler’s Teagan Orga, a 5-6 defensive specialist who was chosen as her team’s Most Valuable Queen.

Other squad members were Bella Hoffman, a 5-8 setter and also from Shaler, Upper St. Clair’s Hayden Culp, a 6-foot outside hitter, Butler’s Brynn Cornibe, a 6-1 middle hitter, Southmore­land’s Ainsley Martin, a 5-3 defensive specialist, Baldwin’s Ashley Skowronski, a 5-4 defensive specialist, North Catholic’s Mikaila Measel, a 6-foot outside hitter, Neshannock’s Rian Owens, a 5-9 setter, and Pine-Richland’s Olivia Moye, a 6-foot middle hitter.

Orga and Moye are rising juniors; all the others are seniors.

Mailea Hufnagel, a Peters Township product and a sophomore at UVA Wise, coached the Cavs to the runner-up finish.

Hufnagel is a 5-10 outside/right-side hitter at UVA Wise. She was a four-year letter winner in high school and was named all-state as well as to the WPIAL Class 4A and Big 56 Conference first teams. She also was a first team all-section selection.

Other MVQ’s in the tournament included Shaler senior Octavia Dixon, a 5-9 OH for the Peacocks, North Allegheny junior Luana Tripon, a 5-7 OH for the Hawks, Mars senior Cece Christy, a 6-1 MH for the Knights, Ringgold senior McKenna Adams, a 5-8 OH for the Eagles, and Beaver sophomore Kayden Blinn, a 5-9 setter/right-side hitter for the Princesses.

Along with Arnold and Hufnagel, the tournament’s coaches were Danielle Caligiuri (Montour/Saint Peters) for the Peacocks, Brooke Sciullo (North Catholic/Clarion) for the Eagles, Kyra Schmidt (North Allegheny/IUP) for the Hawks, Laney Wilson (Albert Gallatin/Saint Francis) for the Knights and Bria Stepp (Seneca Valley/West Chester) for the Princesses.

North Catholic coach Amanda Fetter served as event director of the tournament.

“Queens wouldn’t be what it is today without the unwavering dedication of Amanda Fetter, who has been instrumental since its inception,” Skarupa said, “and Tyler Szymanski, who has built bridges to connect athletes and areas across the region.

“Add to that the phenomenal support from countless club and high school coaches I’m fortunate to call friends.”

Queens of the ‘Burgh was started in 2023 with 32 athletes and has doubled to 64 in 2025.

The 55 players in last year’s tournament earned 44 all-section awards, 31 all-WPIAL honors, 12 all-PIAA accolades and 13 WPIAL or PIAA titles.

Premier Wealth Partners was the official sponsor of the Queens of the ‘Burgh combine/draft party.

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