Bishop Canevin girls runner-up in WPIAL volleyball
That Greensburg Central Catholic swept Bishop Canevin, 3-0, for the WPIAL Class A girls’ volleyball title came as little surprise to those that know the Crusaders are not the team they were last year, having graduated many key players from the 2015 district and state championship squad.
“We weren’t supposed to be here. And we weren’t supposed to win,” head coach Kevin Walters said. “But, I am not disappointed in my team at all.”
In meeting the Centurions, who won their third title and were participating in the finals for the sixth time in 10 years, the Crusaders had to deal with Mikayla Bisignani. The senior outside hitter racked up 17 kills.
“It’s hard to deal with a girl that is 6-1. She’s hard to stop,” Walters said. “She did a good job. She swings well.”
From the get-go, Greensburg Central swung into action. The Centurions won in straight sets, 25-14, 25-10 and 25-8. In games two and three, the Crusaders fell behind, 7-0, at the start and never recovered.
“They have a good team. Take nothing away from them,” Walters said. “We are young. We gained experience. They will be better next year.”
Walters predicts the Centurions will go far in the PIAA playoffs.
“If you stop (Bisignani), then you pretty much stop them,” he said. “They have a good team. They are experienced. They will do well at states. I don’t see a whole lot of teams stopping them. We will see what happens.”
Meanwhile, the Crusaders had to wait and see what happened against Bishop Guifoyle to know if they get a rematch with the Centurions in the PIAA tournament. The teams are on the same side of the bracket.
“Everybody has to push forward and go on,” Walters said of Canevin’s push in the state tournament.
For two other area teams, there is no push in the PIAA tournament.
Bethel Park lost its consolation match to Hempfield, 3-1. The Hawks won game two, 25-17 but lost the others by scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-13. Bethel Park fell to Baldwin, 3-0, in the WPIAL semifinals. South Fayette lost to Knoch, 3-0, in the Class AAA consolation. The Knights won, 32-30, 25-23, 25-18.