Carmichaels highlights All-Area Volleyball Team
Carmichaels’ Taylor Christopher makes an over-the-back return of the ball as teammates Meighan Spishock (23) and Micaela Ricco look on during the Lady Mikes’ quarterfinal match against Beaver County Christian in the WPIAL Class A playoffs at Baldwin High School. All three were selected to the Herald-Standard All-Area Volleyball Team as the Lady Mikes put a team-high eight members on the squad. (Photo by Jonathan Guth)
Carmichaels' Grace Kerr (4) sends the back across the net against Burgettstown during a WPIAL Class A girls volleyball first-round playoff match at Carmichaels High School on Oct. 24.
Carmichaels had a magical season and leads the way with eight selections on the 2018 Greene County Messenger All-Area Volleyball Team.
The Lady Mikes (17-2) experienced many firsts this season in going undefeated in the regular season, earning the Section 2-A title, gaining the second seed in the WPIAL playoffs, advancing to the WPIAL final and qualifying for the state playoffs.
Carmichaels, which is coached by Ashley Shoemaker, defeated Burgettstown, 3-0, Beaver County Christian, 3-1, and Greensburg Central Catholic, 3-0, before falling to Bishop Canevin, 3-0, in the district final. The Lady Mikes’ milestone season came to an end in the first round of the state playoffs to Bishop Carroll, 3-0.
Waynesburg Central (10-4) was third in Section 3-AA and earned a 3-0 victory over Laurel in the preliminary round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. The Lady Raiders’ season ended in the first round to Freeport, 3-0.
Jefferson-Morgan (8-7) also qualified for the postseason with a third-place finish behind Carmichaels and Geibel Catholic in Section 2-A. The Lady Rockets fell to third-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round.
Frazier advanced to the WPIAL final in Class AA.
The Lady Commodores (20-3) moved up one classification this season, but coach Mandy Hartman’s squad didn’t have any trouble in sweeping through Section 3-AA.
Frazier earned the No. 4 seed in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs and defeated Hopewell, 3-1, and Deer Lakes, 3-2, before handing top-ranked Freeport its first loss of the season in a 3-1 victory in the semifinals.
The Lady Commodores suffered a 3-0 setback in the final to North Catholic before dropping a 3-2 match to Corry in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs.
Elizabeth Forward (13-7) advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals before losing to Section 3-AAA rival Thomas Jefferson, 3-1. The Lady Warriors upset seventh-seeded South Fayette, 3-0, in the first round of the district playoffs, and No. 2 Armstrong, 3-1, in the quarterfinals.
Elizabeth Forward battled WPIAL Champion Knoch, which was riding a 46-match winning streak, in the first round of the state playoffs before losing, 3-1.
Laurel Highlands (14-2) tied the Lady Jaguars for the Section 3-AAA title at 13-1 in section play, but lost to Franklin Regional, 3-1, in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.
Geibel Catholic (16-8) dropped two five-set matches to Carmichaels to finish second in Section 2-A. The Lady Gators topped Trinity Christian, 3-1, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs before falling in a controversial five-set match to Fort Cherry in the quarterfinals.
Connellsville (8-5), Albert Gallatin (8-8), Southmoreland (9-4) and Beth-Center (6-7) also qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.
Class AAAA/AAA
Albert Gallatin: Noelle Hall, Makenzie Hall, Megan Harkins, Odessa Hillard, Jayla Johnson, Elizabeth Murtha, Abby Bradley-Rash.
Belle Vernon: Ashlyn Ayersman, Allie Brooks, Maria Iacoboni.
Connellsville: Lauren Bubarth, Elli Cook, Morgan Domer, Maggie Means, Samantha Hileman.
Elizabeth Forward: Sara Beatty, Kaitlin Fournier, Leah Fournier, Liane Mooney, Bri Spirnak, Amelia Vuick.
Laurel Highlands: Angel Buwawa, Belle Buwawa, Emily Buwawa, Olivia Glusica, Alison Humbertson, Cassidy Podlogar, Maddie Wheeler.
Uniontown: Tyannah Eddings, Mya Murray, Kate Sharp.
Class AA
Beth-Center: MacKenzie Crile, Toni Elyea, Noelle Hunter, Frankie Pryor.
Brownsville: Kailyn Martin, Sai Waqanivalu, Saia Waqanivalu.
Charleroi: Hannah Keranko, Katie Reed, Emma Valla.
Frazier: Gabrielle Alekson, Kathryn Barch, Skye Eicher, Logan Hartman, Mackenzie Kelly, Alexis Lovis, Sierra Twigg.
Southmoreland: Justyne Howell, Larisa Lombardo, Faith Miller, Courtney Myers, Sarah Pisula.
Waynesburg Central: Abby Fisher, Emerson Foringer, Peyton Foringer, Alexis Pantalone, Emma Robinson.
Class A
Bentworth: Kaylie Anderson, Leah Lindley, Ali Petrisk, Meghan Tennant, Maria Vito.
California: Ashley Gush, May Fetty, Elaina Nicholson, Tayla Pascoe, Marlee Renner, Ca’Mari Walden.
Carmichaels: Taylor Christopher, Abigail Fordyce, Emma Hyatt, Grace Kerr, Nicole Ludrosky, Alexandra McGee, Micaela Ricco, Meighan Spishock.
Geibel Catholic: Amanda Antol, Paige Bogozi, Alexa Henckel, Haley Riggin, Lauren Tomasko, Shannon Watkins.
Jefferson-Morgan: Brynn Boyd, Caitlyn Dugan, Autumn Gustovich, Carrington Teasdale, Kenzie Wright, Payton Wright.
Mapletown: Aliceon Clark, Macee Cree, Taylor Dusenberry, Madison Kuis, Sydney Kuis, Kelsi Smith.
West Greene: Cassidy Chambers, Brianna Goodwin, Hanna Pettit, Kylie Simms, Haleigh Thomas.