What to watch for in WPIAL sports on June 11, 2024: Mars, South Fayette to meet in PIAA lacrosse semifinals

By: Don Rebel
Monday, June 10, 2024 | 11:03 PM

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Welcome to semifinals Tuesday in the PIAA lacrosse and boys volleyball playoffs.

In the first 11 years of the PIAA lacrosse playoffs, no WPIAL team played in a state championship match.

Thanks to the Mars boys lacrosse program, that has changed post-pandemic.

The Fightin’ Planets have reached the PIAA Class 2A boys lacrosse finals in each of the last three years, winning gold in 2022 and finishing with runner-up silver in 2021 and 2023.

The WPIAL is guaranteed to be represented in the boys 2A finals again this year thanks to an all-District 7 semifinals match Tuesday.

It’s a rematch of the 2024 WPIAL finals when Mars (19-3) battles South Fayette (21-2) at 6 p.m. at North Allegheny.

In that title match May 22, Mars outshot South Fayette, 42-18, scored all six first half goals and captured an eighth straight district crown with a 16-5 win.

Enzo Grieco led the Fightin’ Planets with four goals while both Ryan Blake and Ian Coulter scored three goals each.

Bryce Watkins tallied a pair of goals for the Lions.

State volleyball rematch

Last year, Shaler opened up the PIAA playoffs as freshly minted WPIAL champions with a match at home against the No. 4 team out of District 3, Warwick.

Shaler won in three games, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17.

Now the Titans and Warriors meet again in the PIAA final four.

Two-time WPIAL champion Shaler (18-1) battles District 3 runner-up Warwick (15-3) at 5 p.m. at Altoona.

A year ago, Shaler defeated Central York in the state semifinals, 3-0.

Battle of unbeaten

A pair of Western Pa. boys volleyball Class 2A powers collide with a perfect record and a berth in the state championship match up for grabs.

WPIAL champion Mars (22-0) goes up against District 10 winner Meadville (19-0) in a match at 6 p.m. at Shenango.

The Fightin’ Planets are two wins away from their first state championship.

The Bulldogs have won two boys volleyball state crowns, 60 years ago in 1964 and again five years ago in 2019.