Mars books first PIAA championship appearance with sweep of Beaver in Class 3A semifinal
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Mars celebrates after defeating Beaver 3-0 in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars celebrates after defeating Beaver 3-0 in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars fans cheer on their team before the Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars celebrates after defeating Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Alaina Graham (13) celebrates after defeating Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Hailey Duke (14) hits the ball over Beaver (5) Kaylee Kisling in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ella Nicotra (11) hits the ball down the net for a point against Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Lily Javor (12) celebrates a win in game two against Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Gabi Weidemann (3) dives to save a ball against Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Rylee Wooldridge (5) blocks the ball against Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars fans and players celebrate after defeating Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars celebrates after winning game one against Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars celebrates after defeating Beaver 3-0 in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars coach Tami Caraway gives instructions against Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars versus Beaver in a PIAA Class 3A girls volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
WEXFORD — The volleyball teams at Beaver and Mars got to know each other well this season.
Prior to Tuesday’s PIAA Class 3A semifinal at North Allegheny High School, the Bobcats and Planets had faced off in a tournament, in a regular season match and in the WPIAL final Nov. 2 when the Planets won district gold.
There was no need for the Planets to fret Tuesday.
They were the first team to reach 15 points in each set and put the clamps on Beaver’s potent attack in a 3-0 sweep. Mars dispatched Beaver by scores of 25-23, 25-22 and 25-18 to reach the state final for the first time in program history.
“Beaver is a team of runs,” Mars coach Tami Caraway said. “If you allow them to get on a run, you could be in trouble.”
The Planets (21-4) will take on two-time defending state champion Pope John Paul II (23-0), which defeated Big Spring in the other semifinal, for state bragging rights at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.
Though the first two sets Tuesday were decided by a mere five combined points, the Planets earned enough breathing room that victory never seemed in jeopardy.
As was the case in the WPIAL final, Beaver struggled against Mars’ collection of capable hitters.
Lily Javor, Rylee Wooldridge and Cecilia Christy combined for 11 kills in the first set. In the second, the trio had 14 kills.
Beaver’s star outside hitter Kailyn Connelly had her moments, dropping 14 kills, but each time she appeared to turn the tide in the Bobcats’ favor, the Planets would soon pull the plug on the run.
“Beaver (20-5) is insanely talented. They swept us in the regular season,” Mars junior libero Alaina Graham said. “They like to play fast, and we needed to play faster.”
Christy took over the third set with eight kills. She and Wooldridge keyed a 9-3 run that gave the Planets a 22-15 edge.
“We just did not capitalize on opportunities,” Beaver coach Susan Pollins said. “Against a team as good as Mars, you can’t take plays off. Sometimes, we did that tonight and it’s an issue for us.”
Freshman setter Gabi Weidemann had 38 assists for the Planets. Javor added 12 kills and Wooldridge 11.
Caraway is confident her team will retain the same attitude that has brought it to within one win from turning a great season into one for the ages.
“We have so many talented players, girls who would be the top stars on other teams,” she said. “They’ve pushed that aside and aren’t worried about getting the spotlight. That has had so much to do with our success.”
