JACKSON TWP — Alex Karika and Cate Seman both helped bring success to the Seneca Valley girls volleyball team over the last four years.

They now hope to do so for their respective collegiate programs.

Karika will play for the United States Naval Academy, while Seman will dress for the University of Rhode Island.

Aside from playing in high school, both players are members of the Pittsburgh 3-Rivers club team.

“Alex has played volleyball since the third grade,” said Seneca Valley coach Karen Martini. “I've been watching her play for (six years) and she knew all the fundamentals: setting, hitting, blocking. I could throw her into any situation and she would say, ‘Okay, I'll try this.'

“Cate played well as a hitter at two different positions for us,” added Martini. “Both girls are a big reason why we won the WPIAL (Class AAA) title last season.”

Karika was a setter for most of her four years on the Raiders' varsity squad, but did see some time as a rightside hitter last fall.

“I was able to hit some and that was nice,” Karika said. “Coach Martini knew I could be effective there and I like to hit.”

Karika was first introduced to volleyball while living in Texas.

Her family moved to the Seneca Valley School District in 2006 and by the fall of 2008, she was starting at setter as a freshman for the Raiders.

“I realized that I really liked volleyball and knew it could take me somewhere,” she said.

Somewhere turned out to be Annapolis, Md., where Navy competes in the Patriot League.

“I don't come from a military family,” added Karika, “but I visited the Naval Academy last summer and again in October. It just fits my personality and by going there, it can help me reach a lot of my goals.

Navy is coming off a disappointing 6-23 season, but Karika is anxious to help turn things around in Annapolis.

“(Navy) recruited me as a setter,” she said. “When I'm done there, I want to be able to look back and say I did my job.”

Seman was a middle hitter her freshman and sophomore seasons before getting some experience at outside hitter the last two years.

“I'm more comfortable in the middle, just because I played there for so long,” she said. “Rhode Island is looking at me as a player who can hit from several positions.”

Seman entertained many offers from Division I and II schools.

“I visited Rhode Island last spring and I loved the coaches and the girls,” she said. “You have to click with the coaches and that was definitely a big factor.”

The Rams, members of the Atlantic 10 Conference, went 15-15 in 2011.

“It's a program on the rise and I want to help the team do better in the Atlantic 10 Tournament,” said Seman. “Other than that, I just want to keep growing as a player.”

Karika and Seman both leave big shoes to fill at Seneca Valley, but Martini is proud to see them move on.

“It's an outstanding feeling to see kids come through your program, improve and then use volleyball to extend their education,” she said.