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E-mailMt. Lebanon wraps up WPIAL volleyball title
West Shamokin rolls
Sidney Davis/Tribune-Review
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Mt. Lebanon seniors Kate Begor, Rebecca Riemer and Alex Taylor celebrated their second WPIAL girls volleyball title in three seasons by beating Seneca Valley on Saturday night in the Class AAA championship game at Chartiers Valley.
"It meant a lot sophomore year," Begor said, "but this one means even more."
Mt. Lebanon won the first two games and then had to weather a Seneca Valley resurgence before winning in five games (25-20, 27-25, 24-26, 16-25, 15-10). This was the fifth title for Mt. Lebanon under Dawn Begor, who has coached the Blue Devils for 14 years.
This title, she said, was different than that 2007 win.
"Two years ago was kind of a monkey off our backs because we hadn't won one in a while," Dawn Begor said. "This one feels great."
Mt. Lebanon also won titles in 1997, 1999 and 2000.
West Shamokin 3, Greensburg Central Catholic 1 — Greensburg Central Catholic couldn't disrupt West Shamokin's date with destiny in the WPIAL Class A girls volleyball championship.
While defeating the Centurions, 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 28-26), West Shamokin earned the first WPIAL title in any sport in the school's 10-year history. West Shamokin had been runner-up in girls volleyball three times before Saturday.
"I can't think of any way to describe it," said junior outside hitter Paige Baker, who had 19 kills to lead West Shamokin.
The game was also a tie-breaker. West Shamokin (15-1) and Greensburg Central Catholic (16-2) tied for the Section 1 title in the regular season and split their season series, 1-1.
"It was nice that it came down to both of us," Centurions coach Heather Meyer said. "It says that we have a strong section."
The first game of the match was nearly as close as the section race. There were eight lead changes, but Greensburg Central Catholic scored three of the final four points to record a two-point victory.
West Shamokin jumped out to early leads in the next three games, but each time the Centurions worked their way back into contention. The Wolves, however, were able to withstand all of the rallies.
"There were a tremendous number of matches where we weren't tested at all this year," West Shamokin coach Dan Spencer said. "But to have been in three or four matches that have tested this team, they were able to answer."
Both teams will play in the first round of the PIAA tournament Tuesday night. West Shamokin will meet the runner-up from District 10 at North Allegheny. Greensburg Central Catholic will travel to Windber for a match with District 5 champ North Star.
