COLLIER TWP — Second chances only matter if you make something of it.

The Seneca Valley boys volleyball team is looking to do just that.

The Raiders swept Bethel Park 25-18, 25-18, 25-15 in the WPIAL Class AAA third-place consolation final Friday at Chartiers Valley High School. The win gave the Raiders the third and final state playoff berth out of the district.

The No. 2 seeded Raiders had lost to No. 3 seed Norwin 3-1 on Tuesday to miss out on their chance at the WPIAL title, but were determined to climb their way back into the state playoffs.

“When I walked into practice Wednesday and Thursday, I knew I didn’t have to do anything to get them ready,” Raiders coach Dan Mountain said. “I thought we had two of the best days of practice. The guys were upset about Tuesday and instead of getting down, it got them motivated and fired up.

“They came ready to show they really are one of the best teams in the state.”

The Raiders jumped out to an early lead but were tested when the Black Hawks came storming back.

Seneca Valley held an 11-5 advantage before Bethel Park (17-5) rallied for six of the next seven points — including three Raiders errors — to pull to within one point, 12-11, before Brian Pudlo recorded a kill and Patrick Messmer a tip-over to give the Raiders a little breathing room.

“That was the turning point,” Bethel Park coach Tom Allman said. “It was the same turn against North Allegheny Tuesday (a 3-2 Tigers win in the other semifinal Tuesday). We had the momentum in the first game and it killed us in the end. We just never played our game in the end.”

After a Raiders block attempt went out of bounds, Seneca Valley reeled off six consecutive points to take a 20-12 lead en route to the Game 1 win.

“The real key overall was that (Game 1) was the best match we played,” Mountain said. “They way they did it was big for their confidence. They saw they could swing away and be successful.”

Game 2 started out the same as the Raiders gradually built an early lead, but were slowing themselves down along the way. With an 11-7 lead, four of the Black Hawks’ points came on Seneca Valley service errors.

Bethel Park stayed close as the third game saw seven ties, the last at 10-all before a Pudlo kill, a Bethel Park lift, a Speicher tap-over and a twisting, behind-the-back shot by Max McCloskey that fell in give the Raiders a four-point lead. Bethel Park scored two of the next three points to pull back to within three, but Seneca Valley closed out the game on a 10-3 to advance to the state tournament.

“I tell the guys at this point of the season, every team you play will be very good,” Mountain said. “You can’t get frustrated if the other team gets a run. Over the span of 25 points and best-of-five, the better teams will separate.”

Pudlo and Albert led the Raiders with 16 and nine kills, respectively, while Tim Pecora added seven digs, McCloskey 35 assists and Speicher had seven blocks.

Seneca Valley will move on to face the District 3 runner-up at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Juniata College.