The Bellwood-Antis girls volleyball team opened their District 6-A playoff run by turning back Ferndale in the quarterfinals in three straight games to get rolling towards a return to the PIAA finals.
After drawing a bye through the opening round, the Lady Blue Devils remained undefeated (19-0) while running their consecutive games streak to 57 without a the loss of a single game this season. B-A won 25-19, 25-8 and 25-19 in downing the Ferndale girls.
Lauren Carter had a monster match with 18 service points, including eight aces, nine digs, 12 kills and four blocks, to lead her teammates in all categories. Chelsea Wilson had 12 kills and three blocks, Haley Crider had 10 kills and Lauren Leap had nine digs and 29 assists for the B-A girls.
“The girls truly stepped up tonight, “ said Bellwood-Antis volleyball coach Stephanie Burner. “We lost two of our starters before this game and played a completely new lineup. The girls adjusted in this time of adversity and played together tough as a team.”
Next up for the Lady Blue Devils will be a semifinal match on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. against Penns Manor, which defeated West Branch to earn their berth in the semifinals. Then the winner of that match will advance to the District 6-A championship match against the winner of the Northern Cambria/Conemaugh Valley semifinal, also at 10 a.m. Semifinals and finals will be played at the Altoona High School Field House with the finals to follow at 12 Noon. Northern Cambria topped Bellwood-Antis in the finals last year, with both continuing on to the PIAA state tournament, where Northern Cambria finished second and Bellwood-Antis fifth in the state. The NC girls (19-0) defeated Bishop Guilfoyle last night 25-10, 25-14 and 25-15.
Service Points: Lauren Carter 18, Rachel Albright 10, Lauren Leap 7, Nicole Ross 6.
