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Canevin has no luck in PIAA

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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There was one reason why Bishop Canevin’s hopes for a PIAA volleyball title ended in the first round of the state playoffs: Northern Cambria.

The Colts defeated the Lady Crusaders, 3-1. Northern Cambria went on to compete in the Class A state finals, battling Berlin Brothersvalley for the championship on Nov. 17 at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg while Canevin stowed away its gear for another year.

In the hard-fought match, Canevin dropped the first two sets by identical 25-23 scores, then won the third set by reversing those outcomes but fell in the fourth and decisive game, 25-22.

“It was a well played match between two very good teams,” said BC head coach Brian Walters. “They made a couple more plays than we did.”

Unfortunately for the Lady Crusaders, they were playing their third match in six days and they were fresh off capturing their fourth WPIAL title in seven seasons by dispatching Carmichaels in impressive fashion, 3-0. The District 7 championship match took less than 45 minutes as Canevin swept the Mikes, 25-11, 25-11, 25-9, on Nov. 2 at Fox Chapel.

Of the state playoff loss, Canevin’s third straight ouster in the first round in as many seasons, Walters admitted his team may not have been as sharp as it was during the WPIAL playoffs. He noted after the Lady Crusaders began their third-set rally against Fort Cherry through the WPIAL final against Carmichaels, they outscored their opponents, 125-59.

“(Fort Cherry and Carmichaels) were probably the two next best teams in Class A,” he said.

“It’s very difficult to be that sharp for three different matches within a week. But,” Walters added, “Northern Cambria deserves credit for their efforts and ability to make some plays as well.”

In the match, Alexa Malloy, Kylie Airesman, Maddie Maziarz and Gabby Matakovich made the plays.

Malloy led with 17 kills. She supplied three service aces and finished with 13 digs.

Airesman led with 25 digs. She registered 11 kills.

While Matakovich provided two aces and 11 digs, Maziarz racked up 35 assists. She added 12 digs and three blocks.

Eight seniors will graduate from the program with impressive résumés. Over the last four years, the Lady Crusaders compiled a 77-26 record. The group is the first senior class in school volleyball history to capture three WPIAL titles.

While Airesman was the only freshman on the 2015 team that rolled up a 24-3 record that included a PIAA championship, Matakovich, Ally Correa, Lexi Hall, Alexis Zarnick, Ciara Longo, Thea LaGrosse and Abby Griffith are the other seniors who contributed to Canevin’s successful run. Zanick and Airesman shared team captain honors with Maziarz and Malloy.

In fact, many of the seniors earned postseason recognition for their efforts. Airesman earned first-team all-section and all-WPIAL honors along with Malloy and Maziarz. Correa, Hall and Matakovich were second-team section selections.

Statistically, Airesman finished her career second on Canevin’s all-time list for kills. Malloy ranks first.

Correa led the team in blocks this season while Hanna DeLisio was first in digs.

Maziarz led the team in aces and assists this fall. She is No. 2 on the career list in both categories and should reach No. 1 by next season.

While graduation losses will be heavy, the future remains bright for the Lady Crusaders. DeLisio, Malloy and Maziarz are all juniors and all-section first-team performers. Malloy and Maziarz were all-WPIAL first-team picks as well while DeLisio was listed on the second team.

“We have a talented and experienced group of juniors who will be back for their senior seasons,” explained Walters. “We have some younger girls who will be looking for their chance to step in for this year’s graduating class,” he added.

In addition to juniors Ana Luisa Galante and Julia Balobeck, sophomores Gillian Golupski, Rutanya Taylor and Izzy Beichner – as well as freshmen Abbie Maziarz, Olivia Thomas and Kyla Hartoyo – return to give the Lady Crusaders another shot at a district title and perhaps a longer, more successful run in the PIAA tournament.

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