close

Armstrong rallies from 2-0 down to stun Laurel Highlands

By Jonathan Guth jguth@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
1 / 15

Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard

Laurel Highlands’ Maddie Wheeler bumps the ball as teammates Bella Buwawa (42) and Olivia Glusica watch the play develop during Wednesday’s match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

2 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Emily Buwawa returns the ball over the net as teammate Bella Buwawa watches the play develop during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

3 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Alison Humberston jumps up for an attack during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

4 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Bella Buwawa uses a bump during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

5 / 15

Laurel Highlands celebrates after scoring a point in the second set of Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

6 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Maddie Richards spikes the ball during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

7 / 15

Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard

Laurel Highlands’ Morgan Wheeler serves during a match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School on Oct. 23. Wheeler is one of the Herald-Standard All-Area Volleyball Elite Six players.

8 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Olivia Glusica bumps the ball during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

9 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Olivia Glusica is about to serve during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

10 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Morgan Wheeler jumps up to serve during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

11 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Maddie Wheeler set the ball to Bella Buwawa during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

12 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Alison Humberston is about to serve during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

13 / 15

Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard

Laurel Highlands’ Maddie Wheeler serves against Armstrong in a WPIAL Class AAA girls volleyball playoff match at Hempfield Area High School last year.

14 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Alison Humberston spikes the ball during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

15 / 15

Laurel Highlands' Alison Humberston knocks the ball over the net during Wednesday's match against Armstrong in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

GREENSBURG — Armstrong rallied from a 2-0 deficit to stun Laurel Highlands, 3-2, on Wednesday in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA girls’ volleyball playoffs at Hempfield Area High School.

The Lady Riverhawks (11-6) advance to the quarterfinals on Monday against the winner of Franklin Regional and Montour.

The Fillies’ season comes to an end at 15-4.

Laurel Highlands won the first two sets by scores of 25-15 and 25-10 before the Lady Riverhawks won the third, 25-18, and the fourth, 25-16. Armstrong won the decisive fifth set, 15-10.

The Fillies used a 5-1 run in the first set to take a 12-5 lead that prompted Armstrong to take a timeout. The Lady Riverhawks went on a 7-2 spurt to cut the deficit to 14-12 and Laurel Highlands head coach Emily Konter called a timeout. Laurel Highlands went on an 11-3 run to close the set.

The Fillies had an early 3-0 lead that they pushed to 14-8 and forced Armstrong to take a timeout, and Laurel Highlands cruised to a 2-0 advantage heading into the third set.

The Lady Riverhawks started strong in the third set and took a 5-0 lead. Laurel Highlands cut the deficit to 12-11, but Armstrong was able to prevail.

The Lady Riverhawks closed the fourth set on a 14-5 run after the two were tied at 11 to force the fifth set.

Konter was unavailable for comment following the match.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today