Shaler, NA in a fight for Class 3A supremacy
With two section meetings ahead, seedings will hinge on outcomes
It was both appropriate and a bit surprising to see the boys volleyball teams from Shaler and North Allegheny face off in the final of the Koller Classic this past Saturday at Central York High School.
Shaler came into the 20team tournament ranked No. 1 in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A rankings, while North Allegheny was No. 2. After nine hours of pool play and five rounds of playoffs, the Titans and Tigers met in a best-of-three title match, with Shaler recording the deciding match point in a 15-13 three-set thriller.
“It wasn’t a big surprise, but it is a bit crazy to drive four hours for a tournament and face a school in the finals that is only 15 minutes away from us,” Shaler coach Paul Stadelman said. “For us to meet in the finals of such a strong tournament shows the strength of both programs.”
The Koller Classic title match can serve as a preview of two much more important matches, as Shaler and North Allegheny face off twice in five days in Class 3A Section 2 showdowns.
“In my 20 years of coaching, I’ve never faced a section opponent twice in five days,” Stadelman said. “It will be a challenge for both teams and a treat for the fans. I expect a big crowd for both matches.”
The first match is Friday at Shaler. The rematch is next Tuesday at North Allegheny. Both teams are 5-0 in Section 2.
Volleyball notebook
That translates into three matchups in 11 days for the Titans and Tigers, which could be a preview of the WPIAL finals, as the two teams are expected to be the top two seeds in the Class 3A bracket.
“These matches will play a big part in how the WPIAL bracket is seeded,” Stadelman said.
Fox Chapel coach Phil O’Keeffe and Penn-Trafford coach Jim Schall are quite familiar with Shaler and North Allegheny. Both schools have faced the two frontrunners this season — and both coaches are members of the WPIAL volleyball steering committee.
“Both teams are playing really well,” O’Keeffe said. “Shaler has a group of kids who have been playing together for a few years. They are a very cohesive team with a lot of weapons that control the ball well.
“North Allegheny has a huge roster. [Coach] Dan [Long] is still trying to figure out which pieces work best together. If he can figure that out, NA will be tough to beat. I have to give a slight edge to Shaler in the upcoming matches.”
Schall has similar feelings about the two teams.
“Shaler has a more wellknown lineup, as many of their starters have been starting since ninth grade,” Schall said. “North Allegheny has a lot of depth. There are so many guys they can throw at you. They have a lot of flexibility in how they do things.”
Both lineups feature three individuals who were voted to the WPIAL Class 3A all-star team last year.
Senior outside hitter Logan Peterson and senior middle hitter Dante Palombo were voted to the first team for Shaler, while senior libero Cam Miller was a second-team selection.
Senior setter Nicolas Carioto was voted to the second team for the Tigers, while senior opposite Stone Gaertner and senior libero Will Hahn were third-team selections.
Fresh face makes impact
Thomas Jefferson lost its best player to an injury the second weekend of the season, but a freshman has helped pick up the slack for the Jaguars and coach Frank Staffen.
William Stewart, a 6-foot7 senior outside hitter who was a WPIAL Class 2A second-team all-star last year, suffered a broken wrist when he dived for a ball at the Norwin Tournament.
“At first we thought it was just a sprain,” Staffen
Sports Performance | said. “The trainers taped his wrist, and he played the rest of the day. The next day, he informed me that the wrist was broken and he would miss most of the season. We’re hoping to get him back for the playoffs.”
Thomas Jefferson lost its first section match, 3-2 to Seton LaSalle, with Stewart out of the lineup, but rebounded to win the next four matches. The Jaguars concluded the first half of section play with Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to section frontrunner South Fayette.
“We could have won both matches if Will (Stewart) was in the lineup,” said Staffen, who is proud of how his squad has handled the loss of their top player. “We’ve been fortunate to have a freshman step up and play a big part in our success.”
Staffen is referring to Brayden Concannon, a 6-5 setter/right-side hitter.
“Brayden leads the team in serving and aces,” Staffen said. “He is second on the team in blocking and third on the team in hitting. He also leads the team in assists and is second on the team in digs. He is an extremely hard worker and fast learner as he is constantly improving his game.”
Thomas Jefferson (4-2) starts the second half Thursday at home against Seton LaSalle (5-1), hoping to avenge its first-half loss. South Fayette leads the section at 6-0.
“One thing this team has learned is that everybody has to pull their weight with Will out of the lineup,” Staffen said. “We’ll be a more diverse team when he comes back.”
Elsewhere
Here is a quick look at the other four sections as the first half of section play concludes:
• Canon-McMillan posted a 5-0 record in Class 3A Section 1. Moon and Bethel Park are tied for second at 3-2.
• Norwin (5-0) took over sole possession of first place in Class 3A Section 3 with Tuesday’s 3-2 win against Penn-Trafford (4-1). Central Catholic placed third with a 3-2 mark.
• Ambridge leads Class 2A Section 1 with a 5- 0 record, while North Catholic is second at 5-1. The Trojans can earn a share of the section lead by avenging their loss to Ambridge. The two meet again on April 23.
• Mars, the top-ranked team in Class 2A, has a 4-0 record in Section 2 with a makeup match against Derry Area (2-2) on April 22. Derry is one of four teams with two losses in the section.