Tigers Topple Titans In Section Showdown, 3-2
Two undefeated teams clashed on Saturday in a battle for first-place supremacy in Section 1-AAAA. The contest lived up to its billing as the North Allegheny Tigers rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to win the final three sets and claim a 3-2 victory. The result keeps North Allegheny’s section winning streak intact at 50 in a row. The Tigers have not lost a section match in over four years, since a 3-1 defeat at Seneca Valley on Sept. 20, 2016.
The NA winning streak appeared to be in jeopardy as Shaler stormed out of the gates in set one. Junior outside hitter Mia Schubert powered the Titans offense with six kills en route to a 25-22 win.
Set two was a lengthy nip-and-tuck affair, in which Shaler prevailed 30-28. Schubert once again led the way for the Titans with an eight-kill effort in the set.
The Tigers strength in the middle began to take a stronghold in set three and slowed the Titans momentum. Junior Jadyn Perkins peppered the Shaler defense with three kills and clogged the net with three blocks in third set, helping NA to a 25-17 victory.
The NA block of Perkins and senior middle hitter Maddi Beer played a pivotal role in set four. Trailing 15-12, Beer sparked a late run by the Tigers with an emphatic kill and block. North Allegheny scored 13 of the final 17 points to come away with a 25-19 victory and force a fifth a decisive set. Perkins notched four kills and two blocks in the set, while Beer added three kills and a block.
In the fifth set, the Tigers jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back, fending off the feisty Titans for a 15-8 triumph. Sophomore Mia Tuman delivered three kills in the final set, on her way to an 18-kill performance. She added a team-best 26 digs on defense and two aces.
Fittingly, Perkins finished off the afternoon with a match-clinching block to clinch the victory for North Allegheny. Perkins ended the day with 18 kills and a team-leading eight blocks. For her outstanding play, Perkins was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.
Other NA standouts included senior Paige Miller, who posted 13 kills, 17 digs and a team-best four aces. Defensively, sophomore Caroline Curran notched 20 digs, while sophomore Rebecca Pilotta and senior Paige Morningstar tallied 16 digs apiece.
Following the victory, North Allegheny improves to 10-0 in Section 1-AAAA, while Shaler dips to 9-1. The two teams will have a quick turnaround for a rematch as the Titans will host the Tigers on Tuesday night.
Girls Volleyball Summary vs. Shaler, 10-17-20
| GAME SUMMARY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY SETS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | FINAL |
| Shaler | 25 | 30 | 17 | 19 | 8 | 2 |
| North Allegheny | 22 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |