Bishop Canevin ousted in PIAA volleyball
Bishop Canevin’s quest for a state championship in girls’ volleyball fell short when the Lady Crusaders dropped a 3-2 decision to Clarion in the quarterfinals of the PIAA tournament.
After taking a 2-1 lead with wins in the first and third games, 25-23 and 25-15, the Crusaders dropped the fourth game, 25-19, and lost the fifth, and tiebreaker set, 15-12. They had lost Game 2, 25-20.
Despite the defeat, Erin Cunningham prevailed for 15 kills. Bailey McDonald collected 33 assists.
With the loss, Canevin finished the season at 24-3. The Lady Crusaders were Section 2-A champions with an undefeated 10-0 record. They also were the WPIAL runner-up to Greensburg Central Catholic, falling to the Centurions, also in a five-setter. The Centurions played Clarion in last night’s semifinals.
The future, however, remains bright for the Crusaders as both Cunningham, a 5-9 outside hitter, and McDonald, a 5-8 setter, return to the starting line-up. Canevin graduates just four seniors: Rachel Rittelmann, Katy Correa, Maggie Frost and Sarah Temple. Frost and Temple served as team captains with Cunningham and McDonald.
While Paris Morinville, Eva Zenk and Anna Gestiehr are sophomores, the remainder of the roster is packed with juniors. The other veterans to return next season include: Katie Kelsch, Alex Parra, Riana Conway, Janet Aland, Julia Menosky, Christine Aland, Ashley Mell, Jayde Morgan and Anneliesse Balog.
Kevin Walters coached the Crusaders along with his assistants Pete Barakat and Danelle Wagner.
Honors for netters
Plenty of post-season honors are rolling in for the Bishop Canevin netters as well as other area players.
Erin Cunningham, Maggie Frost, Bailey McDonald, Julia Menosky and Sarah Temple garnered all-section acclaim. The league coaches selected the squads.
In Quad-A, Section 2, local standouts included: Samantha and Alex Amos as well as Annie Cavrich and Leah Kern from Upper St. Clair; Natalie Burchesky, Kathleen Davey an McKenzie Monaghan from Canon-McMillan and Madison Kerr, Sara Komer and Angela Krak from Peters Township.
In Quad-A, Section 5, the area selections included: Mary Baich and Alexa Pavlick from Mt. Lebanon as well as Bethel Park’s Jess Hanson and Sarah Storino.
In Section 6-AA, the all-stars included: Lauren Crites, Amanda Henry and Carly Seibel from South Fayette as well as Morgan Hederson, Laura Nath and Michelle Sanders from Seton-La Salle.
Kayla Brecosky, Megan Bryce, Danielle Bywalski and Riley Young represented South Park in Section 5-AA.