NA advances to PIAA Semifinals with four set win over Bishop Shanahan
North Allegheny traveled to Penn State Altoona on Saturday afternoon to face off with Bishop Shanahan in the PIAA Quarterfinals. This was the fourth time since 2017 that these two teams met in the state playoffs, the previous three came in the state championship, all won by the Tigers. Things stayed the same as NA defeated Bishop Shanahan by set scores of 19-25, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-21. This is the eighth straight season North Allegheny will be participating in the PIAA Semifinals.
Things started slow for North Allegheny in the first set falling behind by scores of 6-3, 13-5 and 21-11. The Tigers grabbed some momentum toward the end of the set cutting the Bishop Shanahan lead to 24-19 before falling in the first set 25-19 but the momentum would carry over for NA into the other sets.
In the second set, North Allegheny made a big adjustment as Reagan Riordan switched with Macey Casten going from hitter to libero, similar to the WPIAL Championship match when Casten went from hitter to libero. The Tigers jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the second set behind the serving of Casten who provided two aces during the run. NA would expand the lead to 12-3 before Bishop Shanahan started to creep back cutting the North Allegheny lead all the way to 16-14. The set would get as close as 24-23 before the Tigers got the set point to tie the match at 1-1.
Set number three was very evenly played with both liberos putting on a show. Bishop Shanahan had a 14-12 lead before NA took control of the set taking the next five points and never looking back, winning the set 25-22 and taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
North Allegheny had complete control of the fourth set with great play from Bridgit Murphy at the net and Keely McMahon-Regan playing steady at the setter position. The Tigers would take the fourth set 25-21 and come away with the 3-1 victory.
Riordan was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game with 25 digs, a lot of them coming in diving fashion. Alicia Mokube and Molly Robertson paced NA with 16 kills each. Murphy finished with seven kills while Casten had three kills to go along with 28 digs. McMahon-Regan dished out 26 assists and had two aces. Mack Jones supplied 12 assists to go along with 10 digs. Kiera Duffy served well with two aces.
North Allegheny advances to the PIAA Semifinals where they will take on the Landisville Hempfield, the champions of District 3, on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. This will be the fifth time these two teams meet in the state playoffs since 2019, the fourth time in the PIAA Semifinals. The game will be broadcasted live on the North Allegheny Sports Network.
Girls Volleyball Summary vs. Bishop Shanahan, 11-9-24
| SCORE BY SETS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Shanahan | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 19 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
