Girls’ Volleyball Clinches Another WPIAL Championship

Posted on: by Jonathan Spina

By: Jared Barton

For the sixth time in the last eight years, the North Allegheny girls’ volleyball team has won the WPIAL 4A Volleyball Championship. NA took down North Catholic 3-1 (23-25, 33-31, 25-17, 25-23) from AHN Arena at Peters Township High School on Saturday.

Things were back and forth in the first set, but ultimately the Trojanettes pulled away late in the frame. The Tigers made a late push following a few attack errors from North Catholic and a kill from sophomore Molly Robertson, but North Catholic edged NA 25-23.

The battle intensified into the second set. North Catholic went on a five-point run to take an 11-8 lead and a four-point run after a NA timeout to take a 15-10 advantage. The Tigers stormed back into the set with a six-point run of their own including two kills from senior Hannah DeLucia, a kill from senior Bridgit Murphy and an ace from sophomore Keira Duffy. Later two attack errors tied the set at 24 apiece. The frame went to extra points and ultimately fell in favor of the Tigers. Sophomore Alicia Mokube registered back-to-back kills while junior Keely McMahon-Regan ended the set with an ace at 33-31.

North Allegheny jumped out to an early lead in set three. An attack error combined with an ace from senior Mackenzie Jones and a kill from Robertson put NA in the lead 10-3. An ace from senior Anna Bridges expanded the Tiger lead to 14-5. Three Robertson kills in a row put North Allegheny in front 20-14. An attack error ended set three 25-17.

Set four was close at first, with North Catholic taking a 9-8 lead. Three straight attack errors and a Robertson ace put North Allegheny back in the lead 12-9. The Tigers ended the final set on a four-point run including kills from Murphy and Mokube and another Bridges ace.

Senior Macey Casten led the Tigers with 25 digs and was awarded the Wright Automotive Player of the Game for her efforts. Roberts led the Tigers with 22 kills. McMahon-Regan led the squad with 31 assists. Murphy had a team-leading three blocks.

North Catholic falls to 15-3 overall with the loss. Tonight’s appearance was the seventh consecutive appearance in the WPIAL title match between 2,3 and 4A action. The Trojanettes qualify for the state tournament and their season will continue.

This is the 10th overall WPIAL title for the NA girls’ volleyball program. The Tigers improve to 16-1 overall heading into the PIAA tournament, where they will host Manheim Township in a first-round matchup Tuesday night from UPMC Court at 6:00 p.m.

The PIAA 4A Bracket can be found here.

Girls Volleyball Summary vs. North Catholic, 11/2/24

SCORE BY SETS1st2nd3rd4thFINAL
North Catholic253117231
North Allegheny233325253