Injured setter inspires Beaver’s run to WPIAL championship

Tri-State Sports & News Service

Beaver Area setter Cortney Lambert sprained her ankle during the Bobcats quarterfinal match Oct. 31 against Derry Area. The injury kept her out of Beaver’s semifinal match against Avonworth, held two days later, and the Bobcats barely pulled out a 3-2 victory.

That set up a rematch between Beaver and two-time defending champion Freeport in the title match Saturday at Baldwin High School.

“There was nothing that would keep me from playing in this match,” said Lambert, after directing the Bobcats offense in a 3-2 victory against Freeport, which gave Beaver its first WPIAL title.

Lambert recorded 46 assists while taking turns feeding middle hitters Macy McElhaney and Alexa Mamone.

“I got [the ankle] taped in the morning and I wasn’t thinking about it the entire match,” Lambert said. “It feels great to be the first team in the history of our program to win a WPIAL title. That makes it so much more rewarding. We came together and played as a whole and played for each other.”

McElhaney led Beaver with 26 kills, 12 blocks, 14 digs and 3 aces. Mamone had 18 kills, 12 digs and 11 blocks.

“Cortney is one of the toughest people I know,” McElhaney said. “She got her ankle taped and said I’m going to play. She’s the most determined girl I’ve ever met.”

Beaver coach Charlene Horwatt was thrilled to have Lambert back in the lineup.

“Cortney was awesome coming back,” Beaver coach Charlene Horwatt said. “I’m so glad she didn’t seem to be in too much pain. She played some really good defense. Her mental toughness setting kept everybody settled and calm.”

Even Freeport coach Tom Phillips was impressed with Lambert.

“You’ve got to give Lambert credit for stepping up and playing with a bad ankle,” Phillips said. “She did a good job of feeding their middles.”

Beaver opened the PIAA tournament Tuesday with a 3-0 win against District 10 runner-up Sharpsville.

Knoch

A balanced and efficient offensive attack was the key to Knoch’s 3-1 win against Montour in the WPIAL Class 3A final. The Knights had three hitters reach double figures in kills. Middle hitter Sarah Armahizer led the Knights with 24 kills, while outside hitter Hannah Rowe and middle hitter Kennedy Christy contributed 14 and 10 kills, respectively. Outside hitter Bethany Nulph added six kills.

“Sarah got a little frustrated when they double and triple-blocked her, but she still had 24 kills,” Knoch coach Diane Geist said. “That really opened it up for Hannah, Kennedy and even Bethany. We had a well-balanced attack. When we get that kind of balance, we are hard to beat.”

Montour coach Mike Marchionda agreed.

“I thought [Rowe] was the difference,” Marchionda said. “We knew [Armahizer] would get her kills. [Christy] also came up with some big kills. They had a balanced attack.”

Nulph and libero Carly Bozzo were happy to see Geist win her first title in 32 years.

“I love everything about coach Geist,” Nulph said. “I don’t know where we would be without her. She’s the best coach I’ve ever had.”

“This is her 32nd year and she’s wanted this for so long,” Bozzo said. “It’s so great that we were the team that was able to give it to her. We did it for her and for ourselves.”

Knoch opened the PIAA tournament Tuesday with a 3-0 win against District 5 champion Somerset, last year’s PIAA runner-up.

North Allegheny

North Allegheny coach Heidi Miller felt her squad had home-court advantage in the Tigers 3-0 sweep of Armstrong in the WPIAL Class 4A match, even though the matchwas held at Baldwin.

“This was the third time in four years that we’ve played in the title match at Baldwin,” Miller said. “So we kind of felt like we had home-court advantage.”

Miller celebrated the title with her two daughters, setter Abby and outside hitter Paige.

“It’s great to win the title with my mom and my sister,” Abby Miller said. “We’ve worked so hard with winning a WPIAL as our goal. It feels so good.”

Abby Miller did a great job of mixing it up as the Tigers had four hitters who recorded eight or more kills.

“It’s fun having so many good hitters,” Miller said. “I put up a set and they just crush it. It feels so good.”

North Allegheny opened with a 3-0 win against District 3 third-place finisher Cumberland Valley in the opening round of the PIAA tournament Tuesday.

Bishop Canevin

Bishop Canevin had a very young squad when it lost to Greensburg Central Catholic in last year’s WPIAL Class 1A title match. The Crusaders are still young, with only one senior in the starting lineup, but had enough experience to win the title with a 3-0 sweep of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

“It feels great to win, especially after losing to Greensburg Central in the finals last year,” said sophomore Alexa Malloy, who led the Crusaders with 17 kills. “The experience we gained in last year’s title match really helped. We were more motivated to win.”

Tamara Blue, the Crusaders only senior, claimed her second WPIAL gold medal.

“This title means so much more to me since it was my senior year,” said Blue, who fought back from three surgeries on her foot. “It would be even better if we could win another PIAA title.”

Bishop Canevin saw its season come to an end with a 3-2 loss in Tuesday’s PIAA first-round match against District 9 third-place finisher Clarion.