Canevin captures PIAA volleyball title
After winning the WPIAL title, Bishop Canevin went on to capture its first PIAA girls’ volleyball championship in school history. The Lady Crusaders swept North Star, 3-0, to claim the title.
Erin Cunningham
After missing the regular season because she had her meniscus repaired, Erin Cunningham returned to the Bishop Canevin girls’ volleyball line-up with one objective in mind. The senior wanted to go out a winner. On Nov. 21, she and her teammates did. After winning their second WPIAL title in three years, the Lady Crusaders captured their first PIAA championship. Bishop Canevin defeated North Star, 3-0, at Richland High School in Johstown to win the first state volleyball title in the school’s history. The Crusaders swept the Cougars, 25-21, 25-16, 25-17.
“This is something I am so happy to be able to do,” said Cunnigham, who registered 18 digs. “We didn’t win the section, so I am glad we could win the WPIAL and I wanted to play as hard as I could so we could get to states. I wanted to finish my career with a PIAA title.”
Seniors Julia Menosky, Bailey McDonald, Alex Parra and Katie Kelsch finished their careers on high notes, too. An outside hitter, Menosky led the Crusaders with nine kills, 10 assists and 12 digs. McDonald supplied six kills and 15 assists. While Parra posted four kills and four blocks, Kelsch aced six serves.
Cunningham, Menosky and McDonald captained the Crusaders along with Janet Aland and Anneliese Balog, both middle blockers. Riana Conway, Christine Aland, Ashley Mell and Jayde Morgan also belonged to the senior unit that had reached the WPIAL finals four years in a row, finishing as champions in 2013 and 2014 and as runners-up in 2012 and 2014. The Crusaders, who were WPIAL finalists as well in 2010, had appreared in three previous PIAA tournaments.
“One of the biggest differences in the match is that we had 11 seniors who had been at states before,” said head coach Kevin Walters. “So we had experience and confidence. The players had a vision from the beginning of the season.
“That group of players with one mission in mind was a stabilizing factor. They accomplished their goal. I am so proud of them.”
Sydney Bonds, Eva Zenk, Anna Gestiehr and Paris Morinville, all juniors, along with sophomores Kayli Sheridan and Tamara Blue and freshman Kylie Airesman also made Walters proud as the Crusaders knocked off the No.1-ranked team in the state. North Star came into the match sporting a 25-0 record.
Overall, the Crusaders finished 24-3. After beating Shenago, 3-2, to win the WPIAL title, Canevin opened PIAA play beating Cambridge Springs, 25-15, 25-22, 25-14. The Crusaders dispatched Purchase Line, 25-11, 25-20, 25-17, in the quarterfinals. They defeated Cochranton, 25-21, 21-25, 25-11, 25-18, to reach the state finals.
Of winning the school’s first state championship, Walters said it was a great achievement. “I am so proud to have my team and coaches make history for our school.”
For Walters, personally, the victory proved rewarding. He has had to deal with his own battle with cancer last season and has recovered significantly to see the triumph.
“As a coach there is nothing more satisfying than your team winning both WPIAL and state titles in the same year. It’s something you dream of but chances of it happening are slim. You set your team goals for this every year but for it to happen is amazing. I will never forget this accomplishment.”
Cunningham to Loyola
Erin Cunningham will continue her volleyball career at Loyola, located in Baltimore. She signed a letter of intent with the Greyhounds in mid-November. She had considered Pitt, Xaxier and Villanova but picked the Patriot League squad, which finished 6-25 this fall, because of the interest they showed in her.
“I thought I would go to a bigger school but Loyola showed the most interest in me since my sophomore year. When I visited, it was a beautiful campus. It was an urban setting, which I like.”
Growing up, Cunningham liked basketball as much as volleyball but committed to a single sport as a teenager. “Every since I got really good around age 13 or 14, I thought about playing at the next level,” she said. “That is when I switched to just volleyball. I knew I had to get serious if I wanted to be a college athlete.”
At Canevin, Cunningham was a serious player. She earned all-state honors the past two seasons. This year’s team has not been announced.