Knoch tennis in WPIAL final

October 18, 2018 Last Updated: October 18, 2018 10:02 AM High School

Slippery Rock's Ian Balquist (4) — who scored the lone goal of the game — works the ball around Mercer defender Jacob Sirofchuck in the Rockets' 1-0 win on Senior Night.

Knoch's girls tennis team is back in the WPIAL Class AA team finals — against an opponent it knows well.

The Knights blanked Beaver 5-0 Wednesday at the Seneca Valley High School courts in the semifinals — their third consecutive shutout in the WPIAL team tourney — and face Sewickley Academy at 3 p.m. Thursday for the championship.

Knoch also qualified for the PIAA playoffs, which begin next week.

The match against Sewickley Academy, which defeated Greensburg Salem Wednesday by a 5-0 count, will be played at North Allegheny.

“We had a tough match with them in the finals last year (4-1 loss),” Knoch coach Nance Conlon said. “Our second doubles match was very close, so that score could have been closer.

“Our match with Beaver was very competitive. Both teams played well. We just got the better of the play today. If we play this well again tomorrow, that would be awesome.”

Knoch 5, Beaver 0

Singles: 1-Laura Greb (K) def. Devyn Campbell 6-0, 6-1; 2-Brooke Bauer (K) def. Anna Blum 6-2, 6-0; 3-Emma West (K) def. Grace Barrett 6-4, 6-2

Doubles: 1-Libby Conlon/Alex Jaksec (K) def. Fiona Rubino/Cindy Lu 6-2, 6-2; 2-Jadyn Brown/Bri Walchesky (K) def. Isabel Rubino/Delaney Young 7-5, 6-1

Girls Volleyball

Alyssa Stitt dished out 12 assists and recorded four aces to help Karns City roll past Forest Area, 3-0.

Emily Wolfe added four kills, Rayna Miller three kills and three aces and Mackenzie Dunn seven digs.

The Gremlins beat the Fires by scores of 25-6, 25-7 and 25-7.

Girls Soccer

Butler closed the regular season with a 5-0 thumping of visiting Hempfield.

Emily Fleeger and Chloe Weiland both found the net twice and Gabby Boden scored once.

Gabby Lloyd earned the shutout in net for Butler (10-5-2).

Slippery Rock 2, Mercer 0 — Sam Harriett and Zara Tedesco scored for the Rockets and Ashley Shea contributed an assist.

Goalkeeper Julia Hart made one save for Slippery Rock, which opens the District 10 playoffs by hosting Harbor Creek at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Boys Soccer

Karns City continued its dominant season with a 5-0 victory over Franklin at Diehl Stadium.