Giant Killers
JACKSON TWP — When it comes to high school boys volleyball, Seneca Valley fired the shot heard around the state Tuesday night.
The Raiders rebounded from a two-games-to-none deficit and toppled previously undefeated North Allegheny 3-2 at SV's William F. Paul Gymnasium.
The Tigers, who won the WPIAL Class AAA title and placed second in the state last season, had not lost a regular-season match since 2010.
They entered Tuesday's meeting ranked first in the state by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association, while the Raiders (10-1) were rated No. 2.
That is sure to change after SV's 21-25, 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 15-10 victory.
“NA's such a tough team to beat, this is unreal,” said Raiders senior outside hitter Brian Pudlo of his team's comeback with its back against the wall. “This win means we are contenders for both a WPIAL title and a state title.”
The fifth game was back and forth until the Raiders reeled off five straight points with Pudlo behind the service line, giving them a 10-5 advantage.
The Tigers answered with three straight points before SV's Eric Speicher dropped a huge kill as the serve came back to the Raiders, who led 11-8.
NA would get possession back twice more, but was unable to score a point either time. Max McCloskey's kill ended the match as SV players and fans stormed the court, capping a memorable Senior Night.
“The effort has always been there from these guys,” said SV coach Dan Mountain. “They want to be the best team Seneca has ever had. I'm incredibly proud of them.”
NA (10-1) seemed primed to extend its winning streak after taking the first two games, but the Raiders sent a message in the third.
Behind clutch kills from Pudlo, Speicher and Chad Albert, SV opened up a 20-7 lead before winning by 13 points.
“It was one of those games when our passing wasn't good, our setting wasn't good, and it had a trickle-down effect,” said NA coach Dan Schall. “That happens sometimes in volleyball.”
Aside from taking a 3-0 lead, the Tigers struggled to maintain momentum in the fourth game.
Speicher, who ended the night with 14 kills, tallied five of them in the fourth game.
“I thought Seneca Valley just took it to us in the last three games,” said Schall. “We didn't have an answer for how good they were.”
“We needed to cover our hitters and play defense better than we did in the first two games and we did,” said Mountain. “Our guys just decided they weren't going to be denied.”
SV was in celebration mode after defeating the Tigers and rightfully so. But Mountain knows there's a lot of volleyball yet to be played.
“We have to stay grounded,” he said. “Our goals are to win the section, play for a WPIAL title, make the state playoffs and hopefully, play for a state title.”
Notes: Albert and Pudlo both had 16 kills for SV, while Speicher added seven blocks, Tim Pecora 13 digs and McCloskey 37 assists. ... Tommy Keisling led the Tigers with 12 kills. ... NA had defeated the Raiders 3-1 on April 12.
