Carmichaels, Frazier highlight 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)
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Frazier’s Skye Eicher hits a jump serve in the first set of the Lady Commodores’ WPIAL Class AA semifinal against Freedom at Norwin High School. Eicher and six of her teammates were named to the Herald-Standard All-Area Volleyball Team.
Geibel Catholic's Shannon Watkins (17) makes an acrobatic set as teammates Amanda Antol (3) and Hayley Riggin (4) look on during a WPIAL Class A girls volleyball first-round playoff match against Trinity Christian at Carmichaels on Oct. 24. All three girls were named to the Herald-Standard All-Area Volleyball Team.
Elizabeth Forward's Bri Spirnak sends the ball back to Knoch as teammates Leah Fournier (15) and Liane Mooney (12) looks on during a PIAA Class AAA girls volleyball first-round playoff match at North Catholic High School on Nov. 6. All three girls were named to the Herald-Standard All-Area Volleyball Team.
Carmichaels and Frazier had magical seasons in advancing to the WPIAL final in their respective classes to highlight the 2018 Herald-Standard All-Area Volleyball Team.
The Lady Commodores (20-3) moved up to Class AA 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.
The Lady Mikes (17-2) experienced many firsts this season in going undefeated in the regular season, earning the Section 2-A title, 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’ magical season came to an end in the first round of the state playoffs to Bishop Carroll, 3-0.
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, who was on 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.
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 the Lady Yellow Jackets, 3-0.
Connellsville (8-5), Albert Gallatin (8-8), Southmoreland (9-4), Beth-Center (6-7) and Jefferson-Morgan (8-7) 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.