Defending champs looking to repeat
North Allegheny, Freeport, North Catholic and Bishop Canevin won WPIAL girls volleyball titles in 2021, but only two will have a chance to defend their title when the 2022 high school season begins on Friday.
Two of the four champs are among 22 schools that have changed classifications under the WPIAL’s new alignment, which will be used during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Freeport, the WPIAL Class 3A champion, is one of 17 schools that moved down in classification.
North Catholic, the WPIAL Class 2A champ three of the past four years, is one of five schools that moved up in classification.
Below is a look at each class and the teams to watch.
Class 4A
It’s no surprise that North Allegheny is once again the favorite in Class 4A. The Tigers have won five consecutive PIAA titles and four WPIAL crowns in the past five years.
Coach Russ Hoburg enters his second season with a squad that returns nine of the 13 players who saw playing time in the PIAA title match.
The Tigers’ top returnee is Ohio State recruit Mia Tuman, a 6-0 senior who was named the Post-Gazette’s Girls Volleyball Player of the Year. Tuman split time at setter, outside hitter and right-side hitter last season.
Also back for the Tigers are 5-8 senior libero Caroline Curran and 5-11 senior Ella Deeter, who also split time at setter, outside hitter and right-side hitter. Curran is an Ohio University recruit, while Deeter has committed to Seton Hill.
“The success of the past several seasons of volleyball at NA has the effect of placing a target squarely on our back each and every match,” Hoburg said. “I am always very appreciative of the way that our athletes handle this pressure and come to compete each day.”
The realignment left Class 4A with only 16 schools, as three quality programs — Moon, Oakland Catholic and Latrobe — have moved down to Class 3A.
North Allegheny’s stiffest competition should come from Pine-Richland, another team from Section 1. The Rams have six starters returning, including 5-11 senior outside hitter Kaili Doctor, a three-time all-WPIAL selection.
“This will be one of the most physical Pine-Richland teams in almost a decade,” said Angela Seman, who enters her second season as coach. “We will have a large senior class who brings a lot of knowledge and maturity on and off the court. We will also be joined by some outstanding freshmen.”
Freshman Isabelle Hoppe will take over the setting duties for the Rams.
Class 3A
North Catholic is the only WPIAL school that moved up in classification. The Trojans also claimed PIAA titles two of the past three years while competing in Class 2A. Repeating their success at both the WPIAL and PIAA levels will be much harder for the Trojans in Class 3A, despite having most of their 2021 championship squad returning.
“The realignment has stacked so many strong teams in Class 3A,” North Catholic coach Amanda Fetter said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to compete with them. It may be a tougher road, but our goals have not changed.”
Fetter lost four players to graduation, but only one played in the PIAA title match. The Trojans are led by a pair of two-time PVCA selections: Sydnei Jones, a 59 senior setter and Howard University recruit; and Ally Feczko, 5-10 senior outside hitter and Lafayette recruit.
“This year we have an incredible group of young women that are working very hard to prepare for a very tough season ahead,” Fetter said. “This year is going to look particularly different for our returning players because we are in a new section and new classification. We are looking forward to navigating this season and working hard to reach the team’s goals.”
Class 3A is clearly the deepest of the four classes, as Latrobe, Moon and Oakland Catholic have moved down from Class 4A. Thomas Jefferson, Mars, South Fayette, Hampton, Montour and Plum are also in the mix.
“There will be a lot of teams fighting for that top spot,” said Thomas Jefferson coach Ron Kelly, who enters his 23rd season with the Jaguars and 34th overall. “Winning this classification is going to take a great run in October.”
Thomas Jefferson has 10 of its top 12 players returning, including a pair of allWPIAL picks: Delaney Concannon, a 5-10 senior outside hitter, and Cate Galioto, a 5-1 senior libero.
Class 2A
Freeport spent the past two years in Class 3A after making eight appearances in WPIAL Class 2A finals in an 11-year stretch. The Yellowjackets remained competitive despite the move up in class.
“We won two section titles and a WPIAL title in Class 3A, despite being one of the smallest schools,” Phillips said. “We had the option of staying in Class 3A, but decided that moving back down was our best option. We may have moved, but our goal every year is to win the WPIAL title.”
Freeport will be the team to beat in Class 2A, as the Yellowjackets lose only one starter to graduation.
“Leadership and experience will be a main factor in our success this season,” said Phillips, now in his 22nd season. “We are loaded with depth at every position. I can put two quality teams out there to battle each other in every practice.”
Freeport’s top two returnees are Cassidy Dell, a 510 senior setter-opposite, and Ava Solis, a 5-5 senior libero.
Avonworth, last year’s WPIAL runner-up, is hoping to make a second consecutive appearance in the finals as eight of its top 11 players are back. The Antelopes’ top returnee is Sophie Culley, a 6-0 senior middle hitter.
“We are a senior heavy team but also have a lot of familiar faces who will be taking a bigger role this year,” Avonworth coach John Skarupa said. “Our biggest concern is replacing setter Abbi Holjes.”
Sam Blose, a 5-4 senior, has the unenviable task of replacing Holjes.
Class 1A
Bishop Canevin faces the stiffest challenge of the four returning champions, as 10 players have graduated, including six all-WPIAL selections. The Crusaders have made 10 consecutive appearances in the WPIAL finals and claimed seven titles, including the past five.
Second-year coach Angela Wyman is upbeat despite being hit so hard by graduation losses.
“The title will be up for grabs this year, but we have a team that is capable of defending our title again,” Wyman said.
Bishop Canevin does have two all-WPIAL picks returning: Keira Kozlowski, a 5-9 senior outside hitter, and Ava Gaitens, a 5-9 senior opposite.
Serra Catholic and Frazier, two teams that moved down from Class 2A, are considered the favorites in Class 1A. Both teams won section titles and advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals last season, and both squads have most of their starters back.
Serra returns to Class 1A after winning or sharing five section titles over the past six years in Class 2A.
“It’s a bitter sweet feeling moving back to Class 1A,” Serra coach Keith Trahan said. “We really enjoyed competing in Class 2A, but return to Class 1A with high expectations.”
Trahan has all but one player returning, including a pair of all-WPIAL selections who share the same home address. Serra’s top returnees are Trahan’s daughters — Emerson, a 5-5 junior setter who was voted to the second team, and Cassidy, a 5-6 sophomore libero who was a third-team honoree.
Frazier returns to Class 1A after winning section titles three of the past four years in Class 2A. Coach Mandy Hartman has seven starters returning, including her two daughters: Jensyn, a 5-9 senior outside hitter and two-time all-WPIAL nominee, and Gracen, a 5-9 sophomore setter.
“We are returning an experienced group of players from last year’s team, and with a strong group of incoming freshmen we look to be very competitive this upcoming season,” Hartman said.