Caged Tigers
JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley not only won the second game of its girls volleyball match against North Allegheny, it broke the Tigers' spirit in the process.
NA lost the first game to the Raiders, but led 18-10 in the second before SV reeled off 15 of the next 19 points to win the game and take a 2-0 lead.
The Raiders easily won the third game to complete the sweep of the rival Tigers by scores of 25-16, 25-22 and 25-11 Thursday night.
"We started to handle the ball better," SV coach Karen Martini said of her team's comeback in the second game. "I told the team that if we improved our ball handling, we'd be OK."
Trailing 18-10 in the second contest, the Raiders (11-1, 6-1 in Section 3-AAA) took possession after a kill by junior outside hitter Meghan Drambel.
Then, with Angela Seman behind the service line, SV scored the next six points to pull within 18-17.
The Tigers (4-3 in section play) had four more possessions in the game, but SV held them scoreless in each one.
Letting a win in Game 2 slip away, the Tigers were no match for the Raiders in the third game.
SV's Tricia Connolly tallied three service points midway through, including an ace, putting the Raiders up 12-4.
"The way the second game ended, it shouldn't have taken the wind out of our sails like that," said Tigers coach Dan Schall. "But we didn't show any emotion in the third game.
"When we play Seneca, it's always a test. But we took a huge step back tonight," he added.
The Raiders made much quicker work of the Tigers than on Sept. 7, when SV prevailed in five games.
"We were working so well as a team tonight," said SV junior middle hitter Cate Seman, who led the Raiders with 14 kills. "Hitting, serving, we were communicating. Everything went really well for us.
"We come ready to play every game," she added. "But there is a bit more intensity when it's NA."
Other stars for the Raiders were Alex Karika with 23 assists and Alyssa DiMaria with 18 digs.
Martini said she believes her team is improving as it searches for a high seed in the WPIAL playoffs
"We're starting to handle the ball better and I've seen a lot of improvement on defense," she said.
