The Bellwood-Antis Lady Blue Devil volleyball team opened the PIAA state playoffs with a victory on Tuesday night.
Qualifying for the state tournament for the first time, Bellwood-Antis traveled to Yough High School in Herminie, PA, to play Geibel Catholic, the runner up from District VII.
The Lady Blue Devils had won the Mountain Athletic Conference Division III title for the second straight year and then won two straight matches in the District VI-A playoffs to earn a berth in the championship game against top seed Northern Cambria. Although losing a hard-fought match to the undefeated Lady Colts, B-A by virtue of their second place finish qualified for the PIAA playoffs.
In their first-ever state action, Bellwood-Antis (20-2) defeated Geibel (20-3) in five tough games. The Lady Blue Devils won the first game 25-18, lost 18-25 and took the third contest 25-15. Geibel came back to win the fourth game 25-22 to force the fifth game, but the Bellwood-Antis girls edged their opponents 15-13 to sideline Geibel and continue on to the quarterfinals.
“Everyone is excited,” said Bellwood-Antis first-year coach Stephanie Burner. “This is the first time that Bellwood has advanced this far.”
Katie Palmer led the Lady Blue Devils with 14 service points, Lauren Carter added 11 service points and Elyse Schreckengost contributed 10.
The Blue Devils’ two big middle players, Carter and Stephanie Hatch controlled the middle as they have all season. Hatch delivered 26 kills and had eight blocks and five service points and Carter added 16 kills, 17 digs and seven blocks. Schreckengost added 16 digs and Haley Crider had 20 digs and four kills. Nicole Ross had five service points.
“Stephanie Hatch, Haley Crider and Lauren Carter really stepped it up and came up big at the end,” Burner said. “It was really tough and I believe it came down to we wanted it a little more than they did.”
The PIAA championships will be held at Robert Morris University on Friday and Saturday. Bellwood-Antis’ opponent in the quarterfinal round will be announced later today.
