Canevin wins WPIAL volleyball title
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bishop Canevin players hoist the WPIAL trophy after sweeping Carmichaels, 3-0, to win the Class A girls’ volleyball championship title.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Kylie Airesman (No. 13) sends a shot over the net beyond Carmichels blockers Emma Hyatt (No. 11) and Alexandra McGee (No. 19) during the first game, a 25-11 victory for Bishop Canevin in the WPIAL Class A girls’ volleyball championships. The Crusaders went on to win sets two and three, 25-11 and 25-9, to capture its fourth district title in their past seven championship appearances.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bishop Canevin girls celebrate immediately after beating Carmichaels, 3-0, to win the WPIAL Class A girls’ volleyball title.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Kylie Airesman (No. 13) and Maddie Maziarz (No. 3) celebrate after Bishop Canevin’s victory against Carmichaels in the WPIAL Class A girls’ volleyball championship match.
After struggling in the semifinals, scoring a 3-2 victory against Fort Cherry, Bishop Canevin revealed its true colors in the WPIAL Class A girls’ volleyball championship match on Nov. 2 at Fox Chapel.
The Crusaders (16-0) swept Carmichaels (17-1), 3-0, to claim their fourth district crown in the past seven seasons.
“This is the way the team has been playing the last three weeks, except for the other night (against Fort Cherry),” head coach Kevin Walters said of that battle in which the Crusaders fell behind, 2-0, before rallying to win the last three games.
“They played exactly how they were taught,” Walters said. “They played Canevin volleyball.”
The Crusaders’ style is fast-paced and flawless and in roughly 45 minutes they dispatched the second-seeded Mikes by taking advantage of every miscue.
After winning the first two sets by identical 25-11 scores, Canevin steamrolled to a 15-0 lead in the third game before Carmichaels registered a point. Canevin won the third set, 25-9.
“We were solid in all phases of the game,” Walters said. “In fact, this was one of the best performances I have seen.”
Alexa Malloy led the attack, as the junior captain paced the Crusaders with nine kills. Senior captain Kylie Airesman followed with eight kills and three blocks. Junior middle blocker Taylor Christopher led the Mikes with seven kills.
The Canevin duo along with senior Ally Correa and junior captain Maddie Maziarz flexed their muscles during a particularly impressive run to start the third game. During the 15-0 tear, Malloy and Airesman had two kills each while Correa had two blocks and Maziarz served up two aces.
The foursome along with senior Gabby Matakovich and junior libero Hanna Delisio meshed well with sophomore Gillian Golupski in the middle and Kyla Hartoyo, a freshman, who was making her first varsity start at outside hitter.
“They were all good and I had a freshman step up,” said Walters. “She came out and played well. We watched her all season long and decided it was time. We put her in to see what would happen, and she did not prove me wrong.”
Walters was not proven wrong when he kept two additional freshmen – Abbie Maziarz and Olivia Thomas-on the roster to complement the mix of players, which included eight seniors. In addition to Airesman, Correa and Matakovich, the four-year players also included: Alexis Zarnick, a captain, Ciara Longo, Thea LaGrosse, Abby Griffith and Lexi Hall.
The seniors now have their final shot at winning a PIAA championship. The state tournament commenced Nov. 6 with the Crusaders traveling to North Allegheny to battle Northern Cambria, the District 6 runner-up.
“We haven’t had a lot of luck in the state tournament,” Walters said. “Hopefully, we can put it together and take a big run at it. I hope the seniors can cap their careers with a state championship.”
With four district titles under their belt, the Crusaders found it difficult to pick which championship meant the most but for the seniors, 2018 is perhaps the most cherished.
“They are all the same,” Walters said. “This is a great bunch of girls, though, and my seniors have worked hard these past four years, so when they do this, this is great.”
Also helping the Crusaders to an undefeated championship were: Ana Luisa Galante, Rutanya Taylor, Julia Balobeck and Izzy Zarnick.
Danelle Wagner and Peter Barakat assisted Walters.