NA Captures 10th PIAA Crown To Match State Record
By Randy Gore
The North Allegheny boys’ volleyball team capped an undefeated season on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over Landisville Hempfield in the PIAA Class 3A championship at Penn State University. The Tigers prevailed by set scores of 12-25, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-20. The win marks North Allegheny’s 10th PIAA championship, matching the record held by Landisville Hempfield for most state titles.
The Tigers entered Saturday’s championship match having not lost a set all season. However, in the first set, the Black Knights quickly ended that streak with a dominant performance. Powered by seniors Mason Koehler and George Agadis, who tallied five and three kills in the set, respectively, Hempfield cruised to a 25-12 win.
North Allegheny regrouped in set two, thanks in part to the steady play of seniors Will Robertson and Nathan May. Trailing 5-4, the Tigers went on a 5-0 run and later built a 17-10 advantage. Robertson totaled five kills in the set on his way to a team-leading 16 on the day. The lone bright spot in a difficult opening set, May continued to uplift the Tigers with two kills and two blocks in set two, as NA earned a 25-20 victory to even the match score.
In the third set, Hempfield jumped out to a 9-4 lead on a pair of kills and an ace from senior Chase Crawford. In a set that featured six ties, North Allegheny rallied to eventually take a 24-21 lead. Despite a kill from Cam Crawford that trimmed the NA lead to 24-22, the Tigers closed out the set on a Peter Bratich kill, and the Tigers earned a 25-22 victory. The duo of Robertson and May again spearheaded the NA effort. Robertson totaled four kills, while May contributed three kills and an ace.
In contrast to set three, it was North Allegheny who took a five-point lead in the early going, jumping out to a 14-9 advantage. Throughout the game, Hempfield consistently managed to cut the Tigers’ lead to two points, trailing 20-18 late in the set. Despite the Black Knights’ best efforts, the Tigers staved off the rally with two kills and a block by Robertson down the stretch, and May finished off Hempfield for the final point of the night to secure a 25-20 win. May, who finished with 12 kills, two blocks and an ace, was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Match.
Exemplary of North Allegheny’s balanced effort throughout the season, there were a number of key contributors to the championship win. Bratich posted eight kills, while senior Brendan Moore and sophomore Ethan Palmer chipped in with five each. Palmer also added a pair of blocks. On defense, senior libero Emmett Morris paced the team with 23 digs, followed by Moore with seven and Robertson with six digs.
The 3-1 triumph over Hempfield marked NA’s fifth consecutive state playoff win over the Black Knights, including a 3-0 victory in the 2018 PIAA championship. Hempfield is 10-3 all-time in the PIAA title match, with all three losses coming to North Allegheny.
With the win, North Allegheny concludes the season with a perfect 17-0 record, while Hempfield’s season ends with a 21-2 mark. Congratulations to head coach Dan Long and the entire North Allegheny boys’ volleyball team for another memorable championship season.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL SUMMARY VS. LANDISVILLE HEMPFIELD, 6-13-26
| SCORE BY SETS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landisville Hempfield | 25 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 12 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
