Punxsy volleyball preps for playoff opener.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsy volleyball team opens play in the seventeam District 9 AA playoffs tonight as the third seed, having earned a home match against Karns City. The Lady Chucks finished the season with a 9-3 record, having lost to just two teams all season, twice to DuBois and once to Redbank Valley. The Lady Beavers finished with a 15-1 record and are the AAA champion, as none of the other teams entered, and Redbank’s record for the season was 17-1, giving them the top seed in the AA classification.
Punxsy’s offensive attack has continued to evolve throughout the season, and in the past few matches seems to have hit its stride, with a variety of hitters approaching from different angles to mix things up on their opponents. Meanwhile, the defensive front has been consistent and solid throughout the season for Punxsy to provide a balanced team product.
“As a team, we are so glad to have the opportunity to participate in the playoffs this year after a rocky start to the fall sports season due to COVID-19,” Punxsy Head Coach Heather Good said. “We've been preparing all season as though we'd have the chance to compete for the district title, and now I feel we are ready to make a statement on the court. We ended the season on a high note with two three-set sweeps in a row, so we are looking to continue that momentum into our match with Karns City tonight. We are looking to stay offensive and push our tempo during every rally.”
Karns City (6-7) enters the tournament as the sixth seed in the AA pairings, with just one school behind them, Moniteau (6-8). Redbank’s 17-1 record put it in the top seed by a significant margin in the power rankings, with Keystone finishing 13-2 for the second seed. The other schools in the AA bracket are fourth-seeded Kane (9-4) and fifth-seeded Curwensville (8-7).
Playoff start times are a bit different than they are for the regular season, so first serve tonight from Punxsy’s Chuck Daly Memorial Gymnasium will be at 6:30 p.m. tonight.