JEFFERSON TWP — Hannah Rowe wrenched her back in early October.

Kennedy Christy suffered a concussion 11 days later.

With the defending co-Butler Eagle Girls Volleyball Players of the Year nursing injuries, the Knoch volleyball team had to regroup and reshuffle.

Quickly.

The WPIAL playoffs were dawning and the Knights were down two of their biggest stars.

“The girls stepped up,” said Knoch coach Diane Geist. “It hasn't been easy. It's been a little nerve-racking.”

Knoch (20-1) has still found a way and will make a third straight trip to the WPIAL 3A championship match.

The Knights play Thomas Jefferson Saturday at Fox Chapel High School.

Knoch has won two consecutive WPIAL crowns, but few gave the Knights a shot at even getting to a third after Rowe and Christy went down.

Geist said the loss of Rowe — who returned to the floor for the semifinal win Wednesday — and Christy may have been good for the Knights in a strange way.

“Sometimes when you have good players, you rely on them too much,” Geist said. “Hannah plays all the way around. Kennedy plays all the way around. Losing them was like losing four players.”

Geist had to turn to four players who hadn't seen much court time this season.

Seniors Kayla Carney and Rory McCune and juniors Mykenzie Werner and Kate McCarty got a chance to fill the void.

And they seized the opportunity.

“It's been really fun,” Carney said. “We all missed Kennedy and Hannah, but we knew we kind of had to fill in for them the best we could. We definitely knew we had to push ourselves and we knew we were capable of playing well.”

Carney has been steady at outside hitter. Werner has excelled in the back row and McCune and McCarty have filled in admirably at the net.

Senior Skylar Burkett has also raised her game as one of the healthy mainstays and a potent all-around player in her own right.

Libero Kenzie Kerkan and setter Morgan Jack have also risen to the occasion.

“We just had to ride out the storm,” Geist said. “We dropped the first set of (the first two round of the WPIAL playoffs), but were able to bounce back. It wasn't a breeze, that's for sure.”

With Rowe back in the lineup, Knoch swept Franklin Regional to earn a trip to the WPIAL final.

Rowe, though, was eased back into action to protect her balky back.

Geist said Christy's return is unknown.

“She's week-to-week,” Geist said.

Carney said practicing against Rowe, Christy and the other starters all season prepared them for when their moments came.

“We practice hard every day,” Carney said. “We do our best to push them and they push us.”

No matter what happens Saturday afternoon in the WPIAL final, this run to the championship match has been a rewarding one for the Knights.

“It almost makes it more special,” Geist said.

Carney agreed.

“I'm so incredibly proud of our team,” Carney said. “It shows what we are capable of.”