JEFFERSON TWP — Diane Geist has been the volleyball coach at Knoch for 31 years.

In that time she's had great players and standout teams.

But none had advanced this far.

Geist has found she's had to remind herself of that fact several times in the days following Tuesday's grueling five-game win over Montour in the semifinals.

“This is new territory,” Geist said. “At the end of practice (Wednesday) I stopped and thought, 'We're going to the state final.'”

Practice was light on Wednesday.

The Knights talked about the climb — their Stairway to States motto — that got them to the PIAA 3A championship match against Allentown Central Catholic, which will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Richland High School in Johnstown.

“We're pushing really hard,” said senior Sarah Armahizer. “We really want this.”

Geist dove into film on Allentown, which won the 3A title last season, but lost several key members from that team.

The Vikings stormed through the District 11 playoffs, not losing a set, and then swept their way to the PIAA semifinals.

There, they won a five-set thriller against West York despite having match point in the fourth set, up 24-18, only to give up eight consecutive points to lose it.

Allentown battled back in the fifth game, eking out a 15-13 win.

The Vikings are stacked, particularly at the net.

Allentown boasts of three players who have notched more than 250 kills this season, led by Rachel Hess.

The 5-foot-8 junior isn't the most imposing player on the floor, but she has notched 440 kills for the Vikings (23-3).

Of course, Knoch has its own trio of dangerous hitters at the net in Armahizer and sophomores Hannah Rowe and Kennedy Christy.

Armahizer was named the WPIAL most valuable player in 3A.

“It's an amazing feeling,” Armahizer said. “Just to get the opportunity to be here and a have a chance to win a state title is unbelievable.”

Knoch set the goal to reach the state championship match early in the season.

The Knights, had a feeling this was a group that could get there.

“We had a little chart with each step and we followed it through,” said senior Kenzie McDowell. “This is my senior year, you have to play with a lot of heart and believe in yourself.”