North Catholic girls volleyball makes it clear who reigns atop WPIAL section with sweep of Mars
ADAMS TWP — The first half of the WPIAL Section 3-5A girls volleyball slate is in the books, and North Catholic left no doubt as to which is the best team at the midway point.
The Trojanettes were dominant at the net in a sweep of host Mars on Tuesday.
Jillian Kalis led the way with 13 kills in the victory, which was earned by scores of 25-12, 26-24 and 25-20.
North (7-0, 6-0) has swept all six of its section opponents. It denied Mars (5-5, 4-2) a share of the section lead.
“We have some really good height, and that helps with making our blocking fluid between several players,” North head coach Amanda Fetter said. “We knew that Mars has a really good setter (junior Gabi Weidemann), and Tami (Caraway, head coach) always has her team well-prepared.
“We are not used to this environment. It is very hot here, and we had to prepare for that. Our gym is an icebox.”
North turned up the heat on the Planets in the first set, using an 8-0 run to take control. Middle hitter Lauren Reitz contributed a kill and a block to the spree.
While Kalis led North’s attack, Kaylee Garr, Audra Lazzara, Reitz and Chloe Summerville also tallied multiple kills to help the team remain perfect.
Mars was on the verge of taking the second set, but a Planets’ hitting error knotted the score at 24. Summerville’s ace and Lazzara’s kill handed the Trojanettes a two-set edge.
“We’ve consistently been the better offense in matches,” Summerville said. “Teams can’t match what we are able to do.”
The Planets have done well in the wake of the graduation of Rylee Wooldridge and Cecilia Christy, who Caraway estimated accounted for 85-90% of the team’s offense in 2025.
“From the first match, we’ve gotten better every time out,” she said. “Two freshmen — (outside hitter) Olivia Corbin and (middle blocker) Grace Radford — have stepped up for us.
“North Catholic’s outside hitters are particularly strong.”
Kalis helped close out the match with six kills in the third set.
“She’s a very talented player, can light the ball up,” Fetter said. “But the attack seems to be led by someone different every night. Our setters (Summerville and Raegan Schwartz) have played very well.”
Kate Southwell and Alyssa Genis both had eight kills for Mars, and Weidemann had 23 assists.
“All of our hitters are pretty even in kills, and that’s important with who we lost from last year’s team,” Caraway said.
Both teams face section foes Thursday. Mars hosts Montour while North Catholic travels to New Castle.
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North Catholic players celebrate after winning a point in a girls volleyball game against Mars Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars' Gabi Weidemann (1) sets the ball in a girls volleyball game against North Catholic Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Raegan Schwartz (19) sets the ball in a girls volleyball game against Mars Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars' Olivia Corbin (9) hits the ball in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
