Knoch girls volleyball ‘playing with a lot of confidence,’ rolls past Ringgold in WPIAL first round
-
Knoch's volleyball team poses after defeating Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Alexandra Spencer (20) spikes the ball against Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Alexandra Spencer (20) spikes the ball against Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Maelan Bajuszik (10) watches her spike go across the net against Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Alexandra Spencer (20) spikes the ball against Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Alexandra Spencer (20) and Emma Rivers (18) attempt to block a Ringgold player's shot in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Andersen Kamer (23) focuses during a timeout in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Emma Rivers (18) hits the ball against Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Andersen Kamer (23) hits the ball over the net against Ringgold n a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Maelan Bajuszik (10) blocks a Ringgold ball in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Alyssa Patterson (11) hits the ball against Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle.
-
Knoch's Alyssa Patterson (11) spikes the ball in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's Alexandra Spencer (20) blocks a Ringgold hit in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Knoch's student section points to the scoreboard against Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
-
Butler Eagle's John Enrietto watches the action in a WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch got better with each set. The Knights built some postseason momentum, as well.
No. 7-seed Knoch defeated No. 10 Ringgold 3-0 in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball playoffs Tuesday night in the Knights’ gym. Scores were 25-20, 25-18, 25-10.
“We didn’t play our best tonight, but it was a good playoff win nonetheless,” Knoch head coach Diane Geist said. “We definitely played better as the match went along. These girls have a tendency to do that.”
The victory gives Knoch (11-7) a quarterfinal matchup at No. 2 Greensburg Salem (15-1) on Thursday night.
“We know they’re good, but we’ll be ready for them,” Knoch junior Emma Rivers said. “We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
The two teams did not meet each other during the regular season.
“We’re somewhat familiar with how they play because we scrimmaged them back in August,” Geist said. “Obviously, a lot has happened since then, but we know the caliber of team they are.
“Our goal is to get to the final four. That opportunity is still there.”
Ringgold never led on the scoreboard Tuesday night. The Rams (8-12) put together a four-point run to knot the first set at nine. But Rivers put the Knights back in front with a dink, and Ringgold was unable to draw even again.
Emersyn Jones led the Knights with 18 digs and five aces. She scored four of those aces in the third set. The first pair helped Knoch to a 4-0 lead while the last pair were part of a four-point run that extended the Knights’ lead to 23-9.
The match-winning point was a kill by Alyssa Patterson, one of only two seniors on the team.
“I try to serve to a player who’s struggling in passing the ball,” Jones said. “If she continues to struggle, I’ll keep serving her way. When we have to change (the serve) up, we do that.
“You always look for a seam, too, try to keep them on their heels.”
Knoch’s kills were well-distributed as Patterson led the team with nine, followed by Rivers with eight. Jones had five kills, and senior Anderson Kamer had three.
“Every now and then, one or two of us will have a big night in kills,” Rivers said. “Ideally, it’s spread around like it was tonight. We have that type of team.”
“Keep ’em guessing,” Jones said, smiling.
Maelen Bajuszik led Knoch with 21 assists.
Ringgold’s roster consisted of one senior, three juniors — and 15 freshmen or sophomores.
“We’re an extremely young team, and I’m a first-year coach,” Rams head coach JaSona Belyeu said. “This program graduated a ton of seniors from a playoff team last year. I’m so proud of these girls for getting into the playoffs this year.
“They worked hard all year. They deserved to be here.”
Callie Tustin led Ringgold with six kills while Reagan Czaniecki added five.
“I give a lot of to credit to Ringgold,” Geist said. “They came in here and played us tough.”
