WEST VIEW - A letdown? From this team?

Not on this night.

Just three days after winning the first WPIAL title in the program's history, the Seneca Valley girls volleyball team took its first step toward its next goal: a state championship.

The Raiders swept their fourth straight playoff series by scores of 25-19, 25-10 and 25-12 from Carrick in a PIAA Class AAA first-round match Tuesday night at North Hills High School.

"I guess it's possible for any team to have a letdown, but our girls had a lot of good energy flowing on the court," said SV coach Heather Haff. "They've made history once (with a WPIAL title) and are looking for more."

After 17 possessions in the first game, the score was knotted at 17.

But four service points from junior Chelsey Pavlick gave Seneca Valley enough breathing room to pull out the win.

"That first game was very important," said Carrick coach Terry Cowden. "And after our girls didn't get it, they were a bit discouraged going into the second game.

"It was nice to stay with (Seneca Valley) for a while," added Cowden. "But I wish it would have been a little bit tighter."

In the second game, Seneca Valley began to dominate and the City League champions simply couldn't keep up.

Led by senior outside hitter Laurie Lindner, SV controlled the tempo of play and found the path to victory free of obstacles.

Lindner tallied 16 kills, with eight of them coming in the Game Two win.

"She was phenomenal," Haff said. "She was very consistent all night. She came to play.""It was just a great team effort," said Lindner. "Our setter (Mallory DeMarco) did a great job."It's all about having fun," she added. "Most of us have been together since the seventh grade and we just enjoy the game."Lindsey Skorupan added nine kills in the win and Laura DuBois added eight.After opening the third game with a 12-7 lead, Seneca Valley outscored Carrick 13-5 to end the latter's season."(Seneca Valley) has a lot more firepower than we do," said Cowden. "We just don't see this type of competition in the City League."But our girls fought hard and had a great season."Anna Neilson totaled seven kills to lead Carrick (14-2).Seneca Valley (14-1) will now head to pool play Friday against Mt. Lebanon, State College and the Villa Maria-Cumberland Valley winner.The top two teams will advance to the state semifinals Saturday at Robert Morris University.