2019 WPIAL Class 3A Section 2 Preview Capsules

Butler

Coach: Lew Liparulo (26th year)

Returning Starters:
6-1 senior middle hitter Nate Sespico
5-8 senior setter Jordan Ray
5-8 junior defensive specialist Peyton Seibert
5-7 sophomore libero Carson Stein

Season Outlook:
Starting the season with relatively little experience at varsity level. Playing very good defense and should improve each week in other areas.

Section Favorite:
North Allegheny should be favorite with Seneca Valley close behind.

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Fox Chapel

Coach: Phil O'Keefe (17th year)

Returning Starters:
6-0 sophomore middle hitter Kaya Akinci
5-9 sophomore outside hitter Brendan Gladwin
6-2 junior outside hitter Patrick Kiszka
6-1 junior outside hitter John Mark Klamut
5-5 sophomore libero James Klatt

Season Outlook:
This will be the youngest team I have ever had in 17 years with only one senior and two juniors. This is a really good group of players and I am looking forward to seeing them progress. We are aiming to make the playoffs after a three-year absence. With the right amount of hard work and competitiveness, I believe we can achieve that goal.

Section Favorite:
North Allegheny

WPIAL Favorite:
North Allegheny & Bethel Park

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North Allegheny

Coach: Dan Schall (17th year)

Returning Starters:
6-5 senior middle hitter Jeremiah Zemet
6-2 senior middle hitter Alex Zubrow
6-0 senior libero Trevor Treser

Season Outlook:
This group is very experienced for being inexperienced. On the surface, they have limited varsity experience, but they have been a part of successful teams whose practices have forced their growth and development for a long time. They have anxiously and selflessly awaited their opportunities, and I'm really excited for their chance this season. This team is so fun to coach.

Section Favorite:
I think Shaler and Seneca Valley will have excellent teams. Luke Olsen makes Pine-Richland a consistent challenge.

WPIAL Favorite:
Bethel Park is loaded with talent. I think Latrobe and Norwin are also ready to make runs, along with the top teams in our section.

Young Players to Watch:
Bethel Park's Tony Boff is an excellent libero who already has substantial varsity experience. Norwin's Joey Ferragonio and Hempfield's Will Kuhns are outstanding juniors.

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North Hills

Coach: Michael Protch (1st year)

Returning Starters:
6-7 senior middle hitter Byron Spear
6-6 junior setter Chris Thornton
6-5 junior outside hitter Emerson Spear
5-8 junior libero Nate Saul

Section Favorite:
North Allegheny

WPIAL Favorite:
North Allegheny

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Pine-Richland

Coach: Shawn Grady (2nd year)

Returning Starters:
6-7 senior outside hitter Luke Olson
6-0 senior setter Jake Swinderman
6-3 junior middle hitter Ryan Bauer
6-5 junior Right Side Jack Tyndall
6-1 junior Out Side Dave Pohold
5-6 junior libero Blake Todorowski

Season Outlook:
With a lot of returning talent our goal is to get into playoffs and make a run.

Section Favorite:
North Allegheny, until someone proves otherwise.

WPIAL Favorite:
North Allegheny.

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Shaler

Coach: Paul Stadelman (8th season)

Returning Starters:
5-10 junior setter Thomas Borgen
5-11 junior libero Trapper Crain
6-3 junior outside hitter Billy Dadowski
6-0 junior outside hitter Steve Hoffman
5-10 junior setter John Kenst

Season Outlook:
We expect to be competitive in our section and make WPIAL playoffs

Section Favorite:
North Allegheny until someone proves otherwise

WPIAL Favorite:
Bethel Park

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Seneca Valley

Coach: Karen Martini (2nd year)

Returning Starters:
6-4 senior outside hitter Luke Trezciak
6-5 senior middle hitter Kyle Montrose
6-5 senior middle hitter Jacob Smeltzer
6-3 senior outside hitter Colin Uher
5-10 senior defensive specialist Greg O'Connor
5-10 junior setter Caleb Dawson

Season Outlook:
We hope to go deep through the playoffs.

Section Favorite:
North Allegheny

WPIAL Favorite:
North Allegheny

Young Players to Watch:
Coleman McDonough is a young rising star. He is a freshman libero for Seneca Valley.