Seneca Valley’s Austin Tatusko responds to a serve during the first set of the WPIAL 3A boys volleyball championship match against North Allegheny at UPMC Events Center on Wednesday in Moon Township. North Allegheny won the match, 3-2. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle 5/24/22

MOON TWP — The final one of anything is often the most difficult to secure.

Winning a third set proved elusive for Seneca Valley’s boys volleyball team Wednesday night and the Raiders were denied the first WPIAL title in program history.

The Raiders led rival North Allegheny two sets to one, but dropped the next two in losing to the Tigers in the Class 3A final at Robert Morris University.

The final set saw the Raiders holding a 10-7 lead after two clutch blocks from Aidan Uher. That prompted SV coach Brett Poirier to say after the match: “I thought we had it.”

But a kill from NA’s Jax Wilhite halted the Raiders’ momentum and both teams failed several times on match point

Seneca Valley’s James McDonough serves the ball during the first set of the WPIAL 3A boys volleyball championship match at UPMC Events Center on Wednesday in Moon Township. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle 5/24/22

Finally, a kill from NA’s Cole Dorn, followed by Nate DeGraaf’s kill attempt that landed just inches long capped NA’s 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 25-17, 21-19 victory.

It is the fifth straight district crown for NA (15-1) and their 22nd overall.

“Some nights, it’s easy ... and then there are nights like tonight,” Poirier said. “It was a great game and our guys played their hearts out.”

Just three weeks ago, the Raiders dealt the Tigers, defending WPIAL and state champions, a 3-1 defeat and SV (15-2) entered the district tournament as the top seed.

Seneca Valley’s Dawson Ward hits the ball into the net in front of North Allegheny’s Caleb Schall during the first set of the WPIAL 3A boys volleyball championship match at UPMC Events Center on Wednesday in Moon Township. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle 5/24/22

“I felt we were the underdogs coming in here and for good reason,” said NA coach Dan Schall. “Seneca is such a strong team and they’ve been playing really well.”

Dorn did not play in that earlier meeting, but dropped 21 kills Wednesday.

“He’s the heart and soul of the team,” Schall said. “His play changed our offense tonight.”

The Raiders avoided falling behind by two sets in large part to the play of Coleman McDonough and DeGraaf, an outside and right-side hitter, respectively.

McDonough tallied six kills in the second set alone while DeGraaf’s three kills late helped the Raiders pull even on the scoreboard.

McDonough had 13 kills on the night and DeGraaf 19.

“There’s a lot of respect between the programs. We know we make each other better,” said Poirier.

The Raiders and Tigers will both begin play in the state playoffs on Tuesday.

“We gave it our all,” said DeGraaf. “If anything, this is going to make us even hungrier for states.”

Seneca Valley’s Nathan DeGraaf spikes the ball in front of North Allegheny’s Jack Wilhite during the first set of the WPIAL 3A boys volleyball championship match at UPMC Events Center on Wednesday in Moon Township. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle 5/24/22