Lejeck, Speca earns POTW honor
Grace Lejeck was named a Quad-A Player of the Week in the final Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association poll before the District 7 playoffs commenced.
A freshman hitter, Lejeck helped Bethel Park to a fifth-place showing in the challenging Section 2 standings. The Hawks just missed the playoffs, finishing behind highly-regarded Canon-McMillan (12-2), Baldwin (11-3), Moon (11-3) and Oakland Catholic (8-6).
Undefeated North Allegheny is the favorite to win the Quad-A title but should be challenged by the Lady Macs and Highlanders as well as section rival Pine-Richland (10-2).
Lejeck shared her POTW honors with C-M setter Morgan Galligan as well as Olivia Persin of Hempfield (10-2)
In other volleyball news, Lilah Speca from South Fayette earned WPVCA’s POTW honors in Class AAA. The junior outside hitter has the Lions ranked third in the WPIAL behind Knoch and Thomas Jefferson.
South Fayette (15-0) advanced to the quarterfinals with a sweep of Ambridge in the first round of the playoffs. The Lions won in three games, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20.
In the win, Speca had nine kills. Lauren Saulle led the Lions, however, with 16. Izzy Franjioni supplied 20 assists.
In other action, Chartiers Valley blanked Kiski Area, 3-0. The match was close throughout as the Colts won each set by two points, 29-27, 25-23, 25-23.
While the Lions will play Elizabeth-Forward on Oct. 28 at Canon-McMillan, the Colts will face Thomas Jefferson at Moon. Both matches start at 6 p.m.
In Class A, Bishop Canevin is ranked No. 1 and has benefited from the outside hitting of Kyla Hartoyo. The sophomore earned POTW laurels.
The Lady Crusaders commenced defense of their championship with a 3-0 sweep of Riverview in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. They face Brentwood in the quarterfinals set for Oct. 29.
In Class AA, Seton LaSalle succumbed to Ellwood City, 3-2, and was eliminated from further playoff action.
The WPIAL volleyball championships will be played Nov. 2 at Fox Chapel. Quarterfinal and semifinal action are scheduled for Oct. 28-31 at sites to be determined.