Avonworth

Coach: Doug Vandervort (17th year)

Returning Starters:
5-11 senior middle hitter Erin Williams
6-0 sophomore middle hitter Makenna Gavin
6-2 junior outside hitter Emily Ferketic
5-7 senior setter Abby Crilley
5-7 junior Outside hitter Marion Haney
5-4 junior Defensive specialist Ava Kelly Trent
5-2 Defensive specialist Hannah Banks

Season Outlook:
We are solid at every position on the court and have depth that we have never had before. I feel that we have two of the best middles in the WPIAL and the best weak side hitter in any class of the WPIAL in Emily Ferketic. We have a veteran setter returning in Abby Crilley and she will run the offense. Defensively, we have young, but talented specialists in Ava Kelly, Hannah Banks, Kat Kosko and Riley North.

Section Favorite:
I would have to say that Beaver will be our toughest opponent as they were last year. But, North Catholic, South Side Beaver and Hopewell look like definite contenders as well. But, Beaver has to be considered the leader of the pack in preseason.

WPIAL Favorite:
As usual, Freeport will be the team to beat in AA. They are solid at every position and have probably the best libero in AA. Defense is always their forte and defense wins matches.

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Beaver

Coach: Charlene Horwatt (18th season)

Returning Starters:
5-8 Senior Outside hitter Mia Dodds
5-6 Senior Setter Cortney Lambert
5-10 Senior Middle hitter Alexa Mamone
6-1 Senior Middle hitter Macy McElhaney

Section Favorite: Beaver

WPIAL Favorite: Freeport

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Beth-Center

Coach: Stephen Beyer (7th year)

Returning Starters:
Senior outside hitter Kennedy Kuhns
Senior outside hitter Kinley Whitted
Junior middle hitter Toni Elyea
Junior setter Mackenzie Crile
Junior libero Frankie Pryor
Senior defensive specialist Baylie Minerd

Season Outlook:
We bring back many starters from last years team. We finished third in section last year and won first round of WPIAL playoffs. Looking for big things out of outside hitter Kennedy Kuhns, she has a very high volleyball IQ. Mackenzie Crile is in her second yerar as our setter and has worked very hard this the off season  improving her skills. We look for her to run the floor and get everyone involved. Outside hitter Kinlee Whited is expected to contribute in a big way this season as well. Frankie Pryor is our vocal leader on the floor and is very quick on her feet. Toni Elyea gives us an experienced middle hitter and blocker as well. Baylie Minerd has Improved her passing. Paige Moore and Noelle Hunter are expected to play big roles for us this season as well.

Section Favorite:
Waynesburg is returning section champs and bring back many starters.

WPIAL Favorite:
Try and compete with Catholic schools that can recruit.

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Carlynton

Coach: Amber Seibel (1st year)

Returning Starters:
5-9 Senior Outside Hitter Brooke McKissick
5-10 Senior Middle Blocker Arieona Smith-Purdue
5-7 Senior Opposite Piper Stevens
5-0 Junior Libero Airys Gould
5-7 Sophomore Setter Jaelyn Melko

Season Outlook:
Seibel takes over for Emily Hanley, who is expecting her first child in November. Very excited for this season as we have a young group. Our setter has worked hard all summer to improve as just a sophomore, as has our junior libero. We are adding two strong hitters this season which we hope will increase our offense. Hoping to improve from last year on our record and continue to grow with such a mostly young group.

Section Favorite:
Either Serra Catholic or Seton La Salle

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C.W. North Catholic

Coach: Arica Smith (6th year)

Returning Starters:
5-7 senior Outside hitter Erin Porter
5-9 senior Middle hitter Alex Dorsch
5-3 junior Setter Olivia Kaminsky
5-6 junior Libero Lauren Gaertner

Season Outlook:
As for our 2nd year in a very strong AA section, we expect to be competing for the top spot with Beaver and Avonworth. We are a younger team with a lot of talent and only three seniors and expect to match up well against our section opponents.  

Section Favorite:
I would expect that Beaver would be favored to win the section based on last year's results and their two dominant middle hitters.

Young Players to Watch:
Freshman setter/opposite Elizabeth Feczko will play a large role for CWNC this season. She brings great athleticism and ball control to the court and is highly competitive. We are really looking forward to competing for a WPIAL championship this season!

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Derry

Coach: Brock Smith (20th year)

Returning Starters:
6-0 Senior right-side hitter Alix Ellis
5-5 Senior Renee Rectenwald
5-5 Junior setter RaeAnna Ressler

Season Outlook:
We are technically young as far as depth of starters returning. However we have players who can step in and contribute who have some quality playing experience. We are not currently a contender, but we will be competitive throughout the season. Young players are going to have to make positive contributions in order for us to have success.

Section Favorite: Freeport

WPIAL Favorite: Freeport and Beaver.

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Ellwood City

Coach: Joelynne Koury (1st year)

Returning Starters:
5-9 junior middle hitter Natalia Greco
5-3 junior setter Mia DeCaria
5-6 junior outside hitter Anna Ferrucci

Season Outlook:
Please give me an outlook for your team for this season: We are a young team and athletic. Anything could happen this year. We could quite possibly see playoffs or we could follow suit with the typical mindset of the school which is “it’s okay to lose.” Let’s hope for door number one.

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Freeport

Coach: Tom Phillips

Returning Starters:
5-10 senior setter Courtney Grubbs
5-5 senior lebro Claire Crytzer
5-8 senior Outside hitter Hannah Mason
5-10 Junior opposite Allison DeJidas
6-3 junior middle Sarah Hettich
5-11 junior middle Hayley Graham

Season Outlook:
Our sophomore class is the most talented group of players that I have ever had and four could play significant roles on this team. Like always we must stay healthy and use our young talent early to get them experience at the varsity level all have played JO ball and competed at the national level for their age group. I like this team a lot and they have been working hard all summer long.

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Hopewell

Coach: Terry Borkovic (28th year)

Returning Starters:
5-6 senior setter Kelsie Hallum
5-5 senior outside hitter Alexis Hill
5-8 senior opposite Joei Ritmiller
5-5 senior opposite Arianna Mastelino
5-8 junior outside hitter Jenna Sirianni
6-0 junior middle hitter Savannah Gill
5-0 junior defensive specialist Shellby Kerec

Season Outlook:
Hopewell made significant improvement during the off season in all areas of volleyball, especially backcourt defense.

Section Favorite:
In no special order, Beaver, Avonworth, and North Catholic.

WPIAL Favorite:
Freeport, Beaver, Avonworth.

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Keystone Oaks

Coach: Mike O'Leary (1st year)

Returning Starters:
5-4 Senior Libero Mariah Lomire
5-8 Senior Opposite Isabella Harris

Season Outlook:
We are a young team this year having lost six seniors from last year's team. We have our sights set on competing for the section championship and making the playoffs for the second straight year.

Section Favorite:
Not sure who would be considered the favorite in our section.

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McGuffey

Coach: JoAnne Harshman (33rd year overall)

Returning Starters:
5-4 junior setter Emily Irey
5-4 senior outside hitter/setter Kimber Rogers

Season Outlook:
Our goal every year is to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

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Quaker Valley

Coach: Mike Vavrek (7th at Quaker Valley, 13th overall)

Returning Starters:
5-5 senior Libero  Sida Wilson
5-8 senior outside hitter Leah Vester
5-10 senior middle hitter Nyla Stowers
5-9 junior setter Josephine Parsons
5-10 junior right hitter Sydnie Sinewe

Season Outlook:
Outlook is to stay healthy and compete for a playoff spot in our tough section.

Section Favorite:
Beaver and Avonworth.

WPIAL Favorite:
Beaver, Freeport, Serra Catholic, Avonworth are the top four i think.

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Serra Catholic

Coach: Keith Trahan (5th year at Serra, 13th overall)

Returning Starters:
5-7 senior setter Olivia D'Andrea
5-9 junior outside hitter Julia Piccolino
5-3 junior libero Morgan Schoy
5-8 junior outside hitter Vanessa Tom    
5-11 senior middle hitter Shannon Sullivan    

Season Outlook:
We look to continue to be a competitive program in a tough section and class. We have considerable experience returning and are looking for to the season.

Section Favorite:
I think our section is very competitive. As defending champs, I think we have the target on our backs and are working hard to prepare to defend that title.

WPIAL Favorite:
Freeport, defending champions and established elite program in the region.

Young Players to Watch:
Freshman Sarah White at Seneca Valley and North Allegheny sophomore Abby Miller come to mind as two skilled young setters.

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Seton-LaSalle

Coach: Amy Okeefe (1st year)

Returning Starters:
5-11 senior middle blocker Bridget Hart
5-7 senior outside hitter Alyssa Eicker
5-10 senior outside hitter Ellie Grefenstette
5-4 senior defensive specialist Maggie Syverson
6-0 junior middle blocker Jenni Pitts
5-11 junior right side hitter Jess Darkowski
5-4 junior defensive specialist Emily Farley

Season Outlook:
This is my first year as head coach at Seton LaSalle High School. I was an assistant the previous two years to Mark Felbinger. It is especially exciting for me to be returning to Seton LaSalle as head coach because it is my alma mater. The early expectations for the Seton LaSalle girls volleyball team is to play well in our competitive section. We have a strong team this year with many returning varsity players. We have goals to develop individually as players and come together as a team to go further in playoffs than previous seasons. The girls are very committed to playing together and working for their common goal.  

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South Side Beaver

Coach: Jason Benkowski (15th year)

Returning Starters:
5-11 Junior Outside hitter Sam Wagner
5-6 Junior Outside hitter Rachael Pieto
5-7 Junior Middle hitter Alexis Chiccarello
5-7 Senior Setter Elaine Robertson

Season Outlook:
We will only be starting one senior, looking for a return to the playoffs after missing them last year.  

Section Favorite:
Beaver and Avonworth

Young Players to Watch:
Sam Wagner of South Side has made big strides from her sophomore to junior year. She is the biggest reason our team has the hopes of being a Playoff qualifying team.

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Shenango

Coach: Greg Dugan

Returning Starters:
5-11 outside hitter Morgan Hill
5-9 outside hitter Allyson Rubin
5-9 middle hitter Kayla Suber

Season Outlook:
As long as we stay healthy we will compete for another section title again this year.

Section Favorite:
Neshannock has the most returning players which will give them an edge for this season.

WPIAL Favorite:
I have only seen Beaver so far this year but AA should be very competitive with Avonworth and Freeport.

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Waynesburg

Coach: Dan Higginbotham (5th year)

Returning Starters:
5-7 senior outside hitter/setter Abby Gibbons
5-5 senior outside/middle hitter Hannah Headlee
5-7 junior defensive specialist Emerson Foringer
5-9 sophomore outside hitter/setter Abby Fisher
5-8 sophomore right/middle hitter Bailey Pauley
5-0 sophomore defensive specialist Peyton Foringer

Season Outlook:
My outlook is that we are young but many girls have worked hard playing through the off season. I think it will pay off in our favor!

Section Favorite:
Waynesburg and Beth Center are the favorites.

WPIAL Favorite:
I don't know about WPIAL favorite.