Helped by player-coach, Penn Hills girls volleyball team ‘starting over again’
KJ McGee wanted to understand how all of the pieces move during a volleyball match where she wasn’t counted on to be on the court. The Penn Hills senior decided to volunteer to help the coaching staff for the boys volleyball team last spring. She did her best to try...
Freeport girls volleyball taking care of business through 1st half of season
The nearly two dozen members of the Freeport varsity and junior varsity girls volleyball teams attended a summer camp at Penn State. Fifteen top schools from all over the region were there and provided standout competition over three days. At the end of the camp, a playoff was held to...
Westmoreland County athletes of the week: Greensburg Salem’s Maria Dinkel, Yough’s Isaac Pacacha
Maria Dinkel School: Greensburg Salem Class: Sophomore Sport: Volleyball Claim to fame: Dinkel, an emerging talent, plays libero and defensive specialist for the Golden Lions (6-0). In her last three games, she has 30 digs, 18 aces and nine assists. She had 10 digs in a 3-0 win over Ringgold....
Penn-Trafford girls volleyball working to build on good start
It has been a good start to the season for the Penn-Trafford girls volleyball team. The Warriors got off to an undefeated start in Section 2-5A at 4-0, 5-0 overall, with big matches against Kiski Area, Franklin Regional and Latrobe looming. Third-year coach Tracy McDonald said she is pleased with...
Franklin Regional girls volleyball builds on playoff return with experienced roster
When Erin Salas took over the Franklin Regional girls volleyball program, the Panthers were a team in transition. Now a year later, Salas said she is proud how the program has progressed in one season. The Panthers are 3-3 overall and 3-2 in Section 2-5A. “The season is really going...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Sept. 22, 2026: 1st place on the line in girls volleyball clashes
A pair of Section 1 Class 4A frays that will determine first place along with who will be tied for second highlight a busy Tuesday of WPIAL girls volleyball. Sole possession of first place is at stake in Section 1-A when Oakland Catholic hosts Knoch. Both the Eagles and Knights...
Chartiers Valley girls volleyball returns veteran roster, sets lofty goals
When sitting down to play a game of chess, one must understand what each piece can do and know how to best utilize each to come away with a victory. Cullen Vereb took over last year as the Chartiers Valley girls volleyball coach, and his first step was to analyze...
Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball builds momentum in early season
Thomas Jefferson girls volleyball coach Courtney Frost is looking for positive results for her team in 2026. TJ started off on a positive note Aug. 29 by winning the six-team Derry tournament. The Jaguars defeated Latrobe, 25-22, in the title match after rolling past Armstrong, 25-15, in the semifinals. Latrobe...
Brentwood volleyball focuses on competitiveness, positivity
Fifth-year coach Matt Episcopo welcomed five seniors and a host of sophomores — nine — to this year’s Brentwood girls volleyball team. There also are five juniors and a trio of freshmen in the volleyball program in 2026. Episcopo, a Carrick native, has become a fixture in the Brentwood volleyball...
Quaker Valley volleyball sticks together during early season ups, downs
The Quaker Valley girls volleyball team was 2-2 after four matches in 2026. But more importantly, the Quakers were 2-0 in section play. “I am fairly happy with where we are at right now; 2-0 in the section is a good spot to be in this early in the season,”...
WPIAL volleyball talent shines at Queens of the ‘Burgh tournament
The Rams, led by Freeport’s Evie Tola, won this year’s Queens of the ‘Burgh girls high school volleyball tournament July 25 at the All-American Field House in Monroeville. Tola is a unique volleyball player, a 5-foot-4 junior outside hitter at Freeport. There aren’t too many 5-4 outside hitters in high...
Raegan Mascaro surpasses assists milestone for unbeaten Oakland Catholic volleyballVideo
A year after finishing as the WPIAL and PIAA runner-up in Class 3A, the Oakland Catholic girls volleyball team has continued to surge in the 2026 season. Even a move up to Class 4A precipitated by a statewide switch to six classifications has not been enough to slow the flight...
Westmoreland County high school notebook: Jeannette softball coaches Tubby, Dody Stein resign
Tubby Stein stressed and strained over his decision to step down as softball coach at Jeannette because he played such a key role in turning around the program. Handing it over to someone else didn’t seem right, but the timing of the move did. The latter outweighed the former. Stein...
In season of change, Shaler girls volleyball thriving so far
The Shaler girls volleyball team has the challenge of getting a number of freshmen and seniors acquainted with each other. Because of the Titans’ schedule to start the year, all of those players were forced to work together under a number of different scenarios. The Titans weathered the storm to...
New coach helps guide Sewickley Academy girls volleyball into 1st WPIAL season
Small steps. The Sewickley Academy girls volleyball program grew from 17 players in its initial 2025 season to 22 players this year. Senior leadership for the Panthers in 2026 — their first year in the WPIAL — is provided by outside hitter Keira Church, right side Willow Simmons, defensive specialist/setter...
Fox Chapel girls volleyball working to overcome obstacles with young lineup
Battling through the early part of the season with a young lineup requires time and patience. Fox Chapel girls volleyball coach Diana Andyreko hasn’t been gifted with many extra moments to get things right. The Foxes, who lost to Gateway on Sept. 3, were forced to play back-to-back Section 1-5A...
WPIAL girls volleyball coaches embrace growth, weigh tradeoffs of 6 classifications
The 2026 WPIAL girls volleyball season is underway, and teams already are searching for ways to adjust to the recent shift from four to six classifications. Coaches seem to agree that the addition of two extra classes brings positives and negatives, but one thing is clear: The popularity of girls...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Sept. 8, 2026: Girls volleyball section play set to begin
A new era in high school sports begins Tuesday with the opening of section play in WPIAL girls volleyball. The new world order now has six classifications in the WPIAL and across the state this season. There are nine teams and two sections in Class 6A, 30 teams and four...
New classification setup, same expectation for Freeport girls volleyball team
Tom Phillips enters his 26th season at the helm of the Freeport girls volleyball team, and the veteran Yellowjackets mentor has a lot for which to be excited. “This is a special team with a lot of potential for success,” said Phillips, whose team has only two seniors but features...
With coach coming in from boys side, Norwin girls volleyball seeks return to playoffs
The Norwin boys volleyball coach since 2022, Mike Palaschak is moving to the girls team this fall. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to coach the Norwin girls volleyball program,” Palaschak said. “This opportunity is especially meaningful to me for two reasons: I have two daughters who will be coming...
Norwin, Apollo-Ridge win outdoor volleyball matches at annual event
VANDERGRIFT — Sunscreen, sunglasses and a lot of water. Those were musts as the Apollo-Ridge and Leechburg girls volleyball teams kicked off Tuesday’s Pack the Park doubleheader on the Ellen Toy Grass Court at Kennedy Park in Vandergrift. The threat of rain that concerned event officials over the past week...
Outdoor girls volleyball doubleheader to highlight 6th annual Pack the Park
When August turns to September, Tim Toy is at the peak of excitement. As Tuesday’s Pack the Park outdoor volleyball matches on the Ellen Toy grass court at Kennedy Park in Vandergrift approached, the event’s lead organizer was helping put the final touches on the sixth iteration of what has...
Defending champion Eden Christian girls volleyball writing new story
The Eden Christian Academy girls volleyball team realized what it takes to win a WPIAL championship in 2025. Eden captured its first WPIAL title in any sport in school history, defeating Serra Catholic in the championship round of the district playoffs and finishing 20-5 overall. “We are incredibly grateful for...
With packed gym, close competition, 4th Queens of the ‘Burgh a rousing success
The Queens of the ‘Burgh girls volleyball tournament took place July 24-25 at All-American Field House in Monroeville. Designed for incoming high school juniors and seniors, the tournament celebrated its fourth birthday in style. It was near standing-room-only in the volleyball court area at the Monroeville sports facility. “I felt...
Burrell grad Addy Rusek, a rising volleyball star at Muskingum, adds coaching to resume
Addy Rusek is living in the present while grateful for the recent past and excited for her future with the Muskingum College women’s volleyball team. With workouts throughout the summer, on-campus opportunities to instruct the next generation of volleyball talent and a coveted coaching opportunity this weekend, the Burrell graduate...
Explore more HSSN
▶
VIDEO: Rebel Yell Podcast: 2026 WPIAL Football Week 6 Player of the Week: Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg of Highlands
October 4, 1:04 PM EDT
