What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 30, 2024: North Allegheny volleyball hunting for another repeat

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | 10:01 PM

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Welcome to Semifinals Wednesday for Class 4A and 3A in the WPIAL girls volleyball playoffs.

Don’t be offended if a member of the North Allegheny girls volleyball team asks you to repeat something because they are experts when it comes to duplicating championship runs.

The Tigers won back-to-back WPIAL Class 4A titles in 2017 and 2018, and repeated again in 2020 and 2021.

NA defeated Canon-McMillan to win the 2023 crown a year ago and is now two victories from repeating for a third time in eight years.

Top-seed North Allegheny (15-1) will square off with No. 4 Upper St. Clair (13-5) in the second game of a Class 4A semifinals doubleheader at Peters Township.

Following a first-round bye, the Tigers swept past Armstrong in the second round, 3-0.

The Panthers own two straight 3-0 wins in the postseason, beating Fox Chapel in the opening round and Shaler in the quarterfinals.

In the first 4A final four match, No. 2 Canon-McMillan (16-1) is challenged by No. 3 North Catholic (15-2) at 6 p.m.

Both teams had first-round byes.

The Big Macs ousted Pine-Richland in three games while the Trojans swept past Peters Township, 3-0.

Battle of champions

A year ago, both the Hampton and Beaver girls volleyball programs were crowned district champions.

The Talbots won the 2023 WPIAL Class 3A title by defeating North Catholic in the finals match right after Beaver edged Freeport in the Class 2A championship match.

Those two defending champs go at it Wednesday in the second of two Class 2A semifinals matches at North Allegheny HS.

Top-seeded Beaver (17-3) will battle No. 4 Hampton (13-5) at 7:30 p.m.

The Bobcats swept past Gateway in their postseason opener and then knocked out Oakland Catholic in the quarterfinals, 3-1.

The Talbots won all three games in their first-round match against Greensburg Salem and went the distance to eliminate South Fayette in the second round, 3-2.

In the first semifinals match at NA, No. 2 Mars (16-4) takes on traditional power and No. 6 seed Freeport (12-3) at 6 p.m.

The Fightin’ Planets own straight-set wins over both Albert Gallatin and Indiana thus far this postseason, while the Yellowjackets cruised past Ringgold in the opening round, 3-0, before knocking off No. 3 Chartiers Valley in the quarters, 3-2.

The winners Wednesday advance to the district finals on Saturday at Peters Township.

Second chances

One of the toughest challenges in high school sports is to come so close to a goal of winning a district championship only to lose in the semifinals, and then have to bounce back and participate in a state qualifier match.

Four WPIAL boys soccer teams are in that predicament with two WPIAL consolation matches set for Wednesday.

Two days after being bounced in the semifinals, a second chance at extending their season is now available.

In 3A boys soccer, Bethel Park (13-7) will battle Mars (15-2-4) for a berth in the PIAA postseason along with district finalists Moon and Franklin Regional.

The Black Hawks took Moon to overtime in the semifinals, but lost to the Tigers, 3-2.

The Fightin’ Planets also were in a tight one against Franklin Regional before the Panthers prevailed, 2-1.

The consolation match is set for Fox Chapel at 6 p.m.

The 2A consolation match follows at 7:30 p.m. as Burrell (10-10) takes on section rival Deer Lakes (17-3-1).

The unexpected playoff run of the No. 13 Buccaneers ended at the hands of top seed South Park on Monday, 3-0.

The Lancers were bounced in the semifinals by Avonworth, 3-1.

This will be the third match between these two Section 1-2A foes.

Deer Lakes beat Burrell both times in the regular season by identical scores of 2-1.