Girls' Volleyball Game Summaries

The eighth-seeded Baldwin Highlanders upended the top-seeded North Allegheny Tigers, 3-2, on Tuesday night in the Class AAAA quarterfinals. The Highlanders, the two-time reigning WPIAL champions, defeated NA by set scores of 25-21, 17-25, 16-25, 25-18 and 15-10. Senior Maddi Sgattoni, a Naval Academy recruit, led the way for Baldwin with a game-high 25 kills.

The first set was a see-saw affair that set the stage for an exciting five-set contest. Both teams traded barbs in the opening set and the score was tied 15-15 before Baldwin pulled away late thanks to six kills from Sgattoni. Despite the loss in set one, sophomore Anna Sprys delivered four kills for North Allegheny.

Hoping to avenge losses to Baldwin in the WPIAL finals the last two season, the Tigers answered back in set two thanks in part to five kills from Duquesne University recruit, Maria Mosbacher. Junior Kayla Dinkins was outstanding for NA and added three kills and four blocks in a 25-17 win for the Tigers.

North Allegheny received another tremendous outing from Dinkins in set three with four kills and a block as she clogged the middle of the net. Maddy Mueller and Mika Logan added four kills apiece in a 25-16 victory for NA.

The Tigers had Baldwin on the ropes but the Highlanders forced a fifth and decisive set with a 25-18 win in set four. Baldwin jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fifth set and Sgattoni made sure it stood up with four kills in a 15-10 win to close out a 3-2 match victory.

Facing the heavy hitters from Baldwin, the North Allegheny defense and libero Erin Carmody was up the challenge and performed exceptionally well. Covering every floor board in the gymnasium defensively for a bevy of digs, Carmody was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game by the North Allegheny Sports Network.

The Highlanders advance to the WPIAL semifinals to face the Bethel Park Black Hawks on Thursday night. North Allegheny ends the season with a 16-2 overall record and co-section title from Section 1-AAAA. Congratulations to coach Heidi Miller and the Lady Tigers for a terrific 2016 season.

Girls Volleyball Summary vs. Baldwin, 11-1-16

The top-seeded North Allegheny Lady Tigers opened the WPIAL playoffs with a 3-1 win over the Connellsville Falcons on Wednesday night. The Tigers were led by junior Mika Logan who posted a team-high 14 kills. Senior Maria Mosbacher added 11 kills, followed by Kayla Dinkins and Anna Sprys who notched eight kills apiece.  Sprys came through with a team-high three blocks as well.

The Tigers kept Connellsville off balance with their serves as Sprys, Mosbacher, Abby Miller, Holly Marusic and Allena Carmody all collected two aces each. Allena and Erin Carmody, and Maddy Mueller all passed well in a solid all-around game for North Allegheny to start the post-season.

North Allegheny leaps to 16-1 overall with the win and will face the Baldwin Highlanders on Tuesday night in a rematch of last year’s WPIAL championship. It’ll be the third year in a row that NA and Baldwin have met in the playoffs. The Tigers will seek revenge from a Baldwin team that defeated NA in the last two WPIAL title tilts. Tuesday’s match will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network at a site and time to be determined.

The North Allegheny girls’ volleyball team wrapped up its regular season schedule on Thursday night with a 3-0 triumph over the Oakland Catholic Eagles. The Tigers handled the Eagles, the co-champions from Section 4-AAAA, with relative ease and earned the win by set scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-22. The match was a good tune-up game for two playoff-bound teams.

Oakland Catholic, the top-ranked team in the MSA Sports rankings, stormed out of the gates against the Tigers in set one and built a 10-3 lead. Following a timeout by North Allegheny head coach Heidi Miller, the Lady Tigers turned the tables on the Eagles won the opening set running away. On senior night, it was senior outside hitter Maria Mosbacher who helped lead the charge with four kills en route to a 25-17 win. Prior to the match, the North Allegheny Sports Network spoke with Mosbacher for a pregame interview which can be viewed below.

North Allegheny continued to ride its momentum into the second set and rolled to a 25-19 win. Junior middle hitter Mika Logan spearheaded the attack and delivered four kills. For her efforts, Logan was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

Logan maintained her strong play in the third set with four kills, joined by Mosbacher who tallied three kills with her heavy swings, and helped the Tigers construct a 17-5 lead. However, Oakland Catholic would go away easily and rallied to cut the score to 24-22 late in the set. The Tigers kept their composure and came through with the match-ending point courtesy of a dump by freshman setter Abby Miller.

North Allegheny improves to 15-1 overall on the season following the win. The Lady Tigers will host the NA Invitational this weekend in final preparation for the WPIAL playoffs next week.

Girls Volleyball Summary vs. Oakland Catholic, 10-20-16

The North Allegheny girls’ volleyball team secured a share of the Section 1-AAAA title with a 3-0 victory over the North Hills Indians on Tuesday night. The win clinched a first-place tie with Seneca Valley as both teams concluded the section schedule with 9-1 records. The Lady Tigers prevailed over the Indians by set scores of 25-19, 25-15, 25-16.

Senior Maria Mosbacher had another strong all-around night with an impressive 16 kills and a steady passing game. Maddy Mueller added six kills on offense. Mika Logan stuffed the middle with three blocks, while Allena and Erin Carmody combined for 29 digs and four aces in a solid night to end section play.

North Allegheny is 14-1 overall and finishes section play with a 9-1 mark. North Hills ends the section season with a 1-9 record. The Lady Tigers will battle the Oakland Catholic Eagles in a tough non-section match. The Eagles are the champions from Section 4-AAAA. The match will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

Girls Volleyball Summary vs. North Hills, 10-18-16

The North Allegheny girls’ volleyball team won its eighth in a row on Monday night by prevailing over the Mars Planets, 3-1. The Lady Tigers picked up the victory by set scores of 25-14, 18-25, 25-12 and 25-16.

It was another well-rounded performance from the NA volleballers as senior Maria Mosbacher led the offense with 15 kills. Junior Kayla Dinkins and sophomore Anna Sprys added nine kills apiece. The Carmody sisters, Allena and Erin, paced the defensive effort and led the team in digs. Junior Allison Fischer had a strong night as every Lady Tiger saw action.

North Allegheny improves to 13-1 overall on the season with the non-section win. The Lady Tigers will visit North Hills Tuesday night in the Section 1-AAAA finale.

Girls Volleyball Summary vs. Mars, 10-17-16