WPIAL volleyball playoffs: How Mars rolled into Class 3A semifinals
ADAMS TWP — A key factor in the success of the Mars girls volleyball team this season has been the Planets’ ability to take advantage of a strong corps of hitters.
“I knew we had a number of really good players back on the attack this year,” Mars coach Tami Caraway said. “The challenge was putting in a system where they could all shine.”
Mars showed its prowess at the net once again in Saturday’s Class 3A quarterfinal playoff, overwhelming Indiana in a 3-0 sweep in the Planets’ gym.
The victory, which was earned by set scores of 25-14, 25-21 and 25-13 sets up a third matchup with Freeport this season. Mars won the previous two meetings, but in the upcoming showdown — at 6 p.m. Wednesday at North Allegheny High School — a spot in the district championship game will be on the line.
Four players tallied at least seven kills for Mars (16-4) against Indiana, including Lily Javor (10), Cecilia Christy (9), Ella Nicotra (8) and Rylee Wooldridge (7).
That balance helped the Planets erase early deficits in the first two sets and a 12-point run in the third broke Indiana’s back. The flurry came with Gabi Weidemann behind the service line and she contributed three aces to the onslaught, but her main focus is setting up her teammates for what often turn out to be successful kill attempts. She had 29 assists in Saturday’s victory.
The Little Indians (15-3), minus team leader in kills Paige Fisanich due to injury, relied heavily on senior Stella Stossel, who tallied 11 kills.
“Mars is big and solid at the net,” said Indiana coach Malinda Oesterling. “They can hit from anywhere.”
Only a freshman, Weidemann does not look like a green setter on the court. In fact, she’s not.
“She’s played five years of club volleyball and won MVP of a national tournament when she was 13,” Caraway said. “She’s very talented.”
Having obtained high-level experience at her position before arriving to high school, Weidemann said she was not nervous.
“I was just really excited about becoming a part of the varsity team,” she said. “Our attack is really strong and I have no doubt in their abilities. Being able to contribute to our success means a lot to me as a freshman.”
