WEXFORD — Seneca Valley was on the brink of a trip to the WPIAL Class AAA girls volleyball semifinals.

Norwin turned into a roadblock.

The Knights shook off a rough start and stunned Seneca Valley in five sets for a 16-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-18, 15-13 victory in a thrilling WPIAL quarterfinal clash at North Allegheny High School.

“I think the girls just kind of said, 'This is what we've played for all season. We have nothing to lose, just leave it on the court,'” said Norwin coach Mary Ellen Ferragonio. “Within themselves, they decided that they weren't going to leave without leaving it all out on the court.”

Seneca Valley controlled the match early, building a 22-14 advantage in the first set before a Katie Brown kill capped a 25-16 win.

The fourth-seeded Raiders pulled away late in the second set for a 25-18 victory. Angie Seman stepped to the service line with a 21-18 edge and reeled off four straight points, including an ace to secure a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series over the No. 5 Knights.

“They're a good, solid team and we knew that coming in,” said Ferragonio of Seneca Valley. “I think because we were so nervous and they play a good, solid game, we just couldn't get it together.”

“I think we were doing everything real well in the first and second games and then Norwin gained momentum,” Seneca Valley coach Karen Martini said. “In WPIAL games, it's anybody's game. ... You have to be prepared to play every point.”

Norwin, which won the Section 1 title with an 11-1 record in league play, began its comeback by jumping out to a 10-5 lead in the third set.

The Knights maintained the advantage to 16-10 until Seneca Valley surged. A pair of kills from Morgan Chapman, a block from Abbie Trzeciak and an ace from Christina Karika cut the deficit to 16-15. Norwin held on for a 25-22 win.

The Raiders quickly recovered and shot out to a 13-7 lead in the fourth set.

Still trailing 15-11, Norwin erupted for a season-saving 13 straight points to turn the tables and seize a 24-15 cushion.

Catherine Ferragonio, a senior outside hitter, found a rhythm with setter Maria Ferragonio and recorded eight kills during the 13-0 run.

“She wasn't going to let her team down. She was as fired up as our seniors were,” said Martini. “She's their go-to girl and she's an extremely great player.”

Hannah Cubarney added two kills, while Maria Ferragonio racked up 10 assists during the run.

A kill from Chapman finally broke the string of Norwin points, but Catherine Ferragonio and Cubarney combined for a block to put away a 25-16 victory and force a decisive fifth set.

Seneca Valley again took an early advantage at 6-3 in the fifth, but Norwin battled back to square it at 7-7 for the first of five ties down the stretch.

Chapman gave the Raiders a 13-12 edge off an assist from Lindsay Hohlbaugh. However, a Catherine Ferragonio kill, a double-hit infraction and a block from Laura Buchanan lifted Norwin to an emotional 15-13 victory, cuing tears of joy and heartbreak from opposite sides of the gym.

“We've never made it this far before,” said Coach Ferragonio. “For (the players), it probably means everything. It's new territory.”

Catherine Ferragonio finished with 27 kills, while Maria Ferragonio had 42 assists, three kills and an ace. Buchanan added 10 kills for Norwin.

It was a disappointing end to a stellar season for the Raiders, who went 8-4 in a tough Section 3 that was awarded three of the tournament's top four seeds.

“I thought we did a really good job this season,” said Martini. “Coming in, we were injured a little bit, busted up and sick and we really came back. The girls turned it around and played exactly how they needed to do.

“It was an outstanding season for them,” she added. “They should hold their heads high.”

Seneca Valley was paced by its seniors, as Chapman recorded 14 kills and an ace; Hohlbaugh 37 assists and three aces; Trzeciak 13 kills and six blocks; Brown eight kills and three blocks.

Seman, a Pitt recruit, along with Karika and Hannah Parey are also a part of the senior group that helped win a WPIAL championship in 2011.

“I thought all of my seniors did a very good job. They all had their moments. Every one of them played well and stood out,” said Martini. “They've been tremendous. They've given everything they can.”