NA Outlasts Baldwin, Advances to WPIAL Championship
By Brandon Rossi
North Allegheny is headed back to the WPIAL Championship after defeating Baldwin in four sets, 3-1, in the WPIAL semifinals on Monday night. The Tigers combined an explosive start with timely offensive contributions and a resilient finish to turn away the Fighting Highlanders, 25-12, 23-25, 25-21, and a fourth-set victory. It is the ninth semifinal victory in the last 10 seasons for NA.
The Tigers wasted little time establishing control in the opening set, cruising to a commanding 25-12 victory. Penn State commit Molly Robertson and junior Carena Schiller helped set the tone early, leading a balanced offensive attack that kept Baldwin on its heels. North Allegheny dictated the tempo from the opening serve, consistently finding openings in the Fighting Highlanders’ defense and preventing Baldwin from generating any sustained momentum.
The second set proved to be a much different story. North Allegheny appeared poised to continue its dominance after jumping out to an early 7-3 advantage, but Baldwin refused to go quietly. The Fighting Highlanders stormed back, disrupting the Tigers’ offensive rhythm and forcing North Allegheny into an uncharacteristically inconsistent stretch of play. Despite battling to stay within striking distance, the Tigers struggled to regain their early momentum as Baldwin pulled out a 25-23 victory to even the match at one set apiece.
With the match tied, North Allegheny responded in the third set behind a resurgence from Robertson. After a relatively quiet opening two sets by her offensive standards, the Penn State commit came out swinging, delivering four kills and a service ace to help the Tigers regain control. Albany commit Alicia Mokube also provided timely hitting at critical moments, giving North Allegheny another reliable offensive weapon when Baldwin threatened to close the gap. The Tigers controlled much of the set and held off a late push from the Fighting Highlanders to secure a 25-21 victory and move within one set of the championship match. Mokube’s performance throughout the evening earned her Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.
The fourth set tested North Allegheny’s patience and composure as Baldwin continued to battle with its season on the line. Unlike the opening set, the Tigers were unable to build a comfortable advantage, with the Fighting Highlanders refusing to let North Allegheny pull away. Lily Dent emerged as an important offensive contributor after a quieter start to the evening, providing another dimension to the Tigers’ attack. Rather than forcing the issue, North Allegheny remained patient, worked through extended rallies, and capitalized on its opportunities down the stretch. That persistence ultimately paid off as the Tigers put away Baldwin for good and punched their ticket to the WPIAL Championship.
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Robertson led the way for North Allegheny with an impressive triple-double, recording 17 kills, 13 assists, and 10 digs while adding three service aces. Mokube delivered a strong all-around performance with 13 kills and five blocks, while Schiller matched her with 13 kills of her own. Dent finished with eight kills and 12 assists, providing a valuable spark in the latter stages of the match. Sydney Klaich orchestrated the offense with a team-high 24 assists, while Vivienne Deily-Nelson anchored the back row with 21 digs. Keira Duffy contributed another 12 digs, and Paige Shanahan made her presence felt at the net with five blocks.
With the semifinal victory, North Allegheny advances to the WPIAL Class 6A Championship on Thursday, November 5, at AHN Arena at Peters Township High School, where the Tigers will square off against Pine-Richland.
Girls Volleyball Summary vs. Baldwin, 11-2-26
| SCORE BY SETS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | 12 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
