Bethel Park falls to North Allegheny in volleyball finals
Just because Bethel Park was the undisputed underdog going against a team that hadn’t dropped a game all season didn’t mean the Hawks didn’t have their sights set on a WPIAL title in boys’ volleyball.
“We wanted to win the championship,” BP skipper Zach Smith said.
North Allegheny in no way allowed that desire. Despite dropping the second game in the match played May 24 at Baldwin, the Tigers dispatched the Hawks, 3-1, to remain undefeated at 19-0 and claim their 13th WPIAL championship under Dan Schall.
“It was a nice moral victory to be able to beat them and take a game from them,” Smith said. “I thought we were right in it in set one and set three as well.”
Indeed, the Hawks lost the first game, 25-19, and the third, 25-22. In between they won the second set, 25-23. But they lost the fourth, 25-14, falling behind by as much as 15-6, to cede the championship to the Tigers.
“Obviously we are disappointed but I am happy with the way my guys played. They played hard. They played their hearts out. So that is all you can really ask of them.”
The Tigers asked for something out of all its players, not just Canyon Tuman, who is a Penn State recruit.
“We did not have an answer for Canyon but at different times in the match different guys beat us the whole way through,” Smith said. “They have so many weapons. They are so balanced. So, hats off to their entire team. They played a very complete game.”
While the championships completed District 7 play for the Hawks and the Tigers, they commence their quests for state titles when the PIAA tournament begins May 29. The Hawks, who are 18-1 overall, are ready and rearing to get back on the court.
“My guys are resilient. They love to play volleyball so they are going to come back and be ready to go again,” Smith said. “We are not out of the state tournament. We played the toughest team in the WPIAL and we played them tough so we think we can play with anybody.”
Clearly three Hawks can play with anybody as they gained All-WPIAL recognition.
Senior Dylan Schanck and junior John Cooley earned first-team acclaim while sophomore Anthony Boff was named to the third team.
Grant Jansante and Jacob Cunningham along with Schanck are the captains and the only seniors on the club.
Mason Bussard and Joshua Sprandle were the only other juniors while the rest of the roster consisted of sophomores. Among the other 10th graders are: Kevin Kerr, Joshua Capristo, Sebastian DiPrampero, Austin Cortopassi, Alex Brownfield, Vincent DeBald and Tyler Simpson.