SV ready to rumble
JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley boys volleyball program has been very good for years, but this season's team is striving to be great.
A 3-2 win over previously unbeaten North Allegheny May 11 enabled the Raiders to claim a share of the Section 2 title for the first time in three seasons.
"That was a big win," said senior outside hitter Nick Shaffer. "It showed us we can compete with the elite teams."
SV (14-2, 11-1) is ranked in the top five in the state as they prepare for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, which begin this week.
The Raiders received a first-round bye and will host the winner of Monday night's Baldwin vs. Latrobe match at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Seneca Valley has made postseason play in seven of the program's nine seasons. But in none of its previous six trips to the playoffs has the team won more than one match.
"Seneca Valley has always been good, but they weren't at that championship level," said coach Dan Mountain, who took over the program in February. "At first, I didn't know any of the players individually, but I was impressed with their height. I liked their ability to hit and block."
The Raiders said they're aware actions speak louder than words.
"We don't talk much about our goals. We just stay focused from game to game," said senior outside hitter and captain Nate Steele. "But getting to the state playoffs is our main goal. It would be nice to go down as the first Seneca team to get there. It would be a big part of the program's history."
The top three teams from the WPIAL qualify for the state tournament.
It was at an early-season tournament at North Allegheny when Mountain saw just what kind of team he had.
"We struggled early, but improved and ended up playing in the title game against Central York," said Mountain. "We lost in the final and we were up and down during the tournament, but it showed me we had potential."
Seneca Valley stormed through its section schedule, except for a 3-2 loss at North Allegheny in mid-April.
Against the other five teams in the section, Fox Chapel, Butler, Shaler, Pine-Richland and North Hills, the Raiders went a combined 10-0, losing only four sets in the process.
"Our communication has gotten a lot better," said Shaffer. "The more we play together, the better idea we have of where the other guys are going to be on the court. That was a big reason why we were able to beat NA."
"Every practice, we're getting better and better," said Steele.
The Raiders feature four seniors: outside hitters Shaffer and Steele, middle hitter Nate Hayden and defensive specialist Joey Price.
"All four of them are key players for us," said Mountain. "They welcomed me and accepted my coaching philosophy, and, because of that, the younger players did as well."
