Raiders advance
JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley boys volleyball team spotted Upper St. Clair a one-game lead.
The Raiders then displayed the form that gave them a 12-2 record.
SV outscored the Panthers 50-37 in taking games two and three before prevailing 3-2 in a WPIAL first-round playoff match Thursday at Seneca Valley High School.
The Raiders won by scores of 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 17-25 and 15-10.
"We're playing with a lot of confidence and it all started with the win at North Allegheny (May 2)," said Raiders coach Jeff Beavers. "This team feels it can play with anybody right now."
That's the mind-set the Raiders will need against their next opponent: 14-1 Ambridge, a 3-1 winner over Shaler and the top seeded team in the district.
The two teams will play in a quarterfinal Monday at a site and time to be determined.
After the Raiders (13-2) tied the match at one game apiece, they simply muscled their way to a win in Game 3.
SV opened a 15-8 lead, with junior outside hitter Adam Beebe leading the way with several key kills and blocks.
Beebe tallied a block that gave the Raiders a 17-9 lead and later dropped a monstrous kill on the Panthers that ended the game, giving SV a 2-1 edge.
"Adam can be on like he was tonight," said Beavers. "He's one of our big guns and we count on him a lot."
Meanwhile, the Panthers (12-5) entered the fourth game facing elimination, and they responded with a season-saving, 8-point win to force a fifth game.
"I thought the first four games were pretty even," said USC coach Jack Zebo. "Entering the last game, I felt it could go either way."
But it was the Raiders who dominated the action following a 7-7 stalemate.
SV allowed just one service point to the Panthers the rest of the way before gaining the evening's final point on defense.
"Before the fifth game, I just told the guys to stay focused, move their feet and play defense," said Beavers.
"The difference was SV's defensive work," said Zebo. "They never gave up."
Dan Follett led Seneca Valley with 12 kills, P.J. Duffy had eight while Justin Hoffman and Beebe both offered seven.
"This was a big one for us," said Beebe. "Upper St. Clair beat us last year in the playoffs, so it was nice to pay them back."
