WPIAL volleyball: Mars girls easily boot Albert Gallatin in first-round playoff match

Josh Rizzo

Eagle Correspondent

October 23, 2024 Last Updated: October 23, 2024 10:57 PM Sports

Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Celebrates after defeating Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (11) Ella Nicotra blocks a hit by Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars celebrates a point against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (2) Katherine Ashbaugh serves the ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (24) Cecilia Christy spikes the ball down on Albert Gallatin (4) Mia Myers in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars volleyball team celebrates with fans after defeating Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (24) Cecilia Christy bumps the ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (13) Alaina Graham celebrate as they defeat Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (5) Rylee Wooldridge bumps the ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (13) Alaina Graham hits there ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (9) Gabi Weidemann blocks a hit by Albert Gallatin (17) Leah Myers in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (24) Cecilia Christy spikes ball on Albert Gallatin (1) Mya Gilsan in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars (9) Gabi Weidemann celebrates after winning game one against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Celebrates after defeating Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (11) Ella Nicotra blocks a hit by Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars celebrates a point against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (2) Katherine Ashbaugh serves the ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (24) Cecilia Christy spikes the ball down on Albert Gallatin (4) Mia Myers in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars volleyball team celebrates with fans after defeating Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (24) Cecilia Christy bumps the ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars vs Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (13) Alaina Graham celebrate as they defeat Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (5) Rylee Wooldridge bumps the ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (13) Alaina Graham hits there ball against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (9) Gabi Weidemann blocks a hit by Albert Gallatin (17) Leah Myers in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (9) Gabi Weidemann blocks a hit by Albert Gallatin (17) Leah Myers in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (24) Cecilia Christy spikes ball on Albert Gallatin (1) Mya Gilsan in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Mars (9) Gabi Weidemann celebrates after winning game one against Albert Gallatin in a WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball first round game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

ADAMS TWP — The nervy moments will still be ahead for the Mars girls volleyball team as they advance through the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. But the Planets looked comfortable playing the role of a highly-seeded hammer Wednesday night at home.

Second-seeded Mars leaned on its superior size and hit to breeze by Albert Gallatin 25-11, 25-13, 25-10 in a first-round playoff match.

Mars middle blocker Cecilia Christy, who had a team-high 15 kills and four blocks, felt the Planets were ready to go.

“I think our energy was good,” Christy said. “We were excited and used a lot of our runs. In the upcoming games we play, I hope we can build off what we have. Clean it up and play the high-speed game we want to play.”

The Planets will play the winner of No. 7 Indiana and No. 10 Montour in the quarterfinals on Saturday at a time and place to be determined. Mars, which is making its ninth consecutive appearance in the playoffs, hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals since winning the WPIAL Class AA championship in 2012.

The Planets (15-4) have swept nine opponents this season.

Mars coach Tami Caraway said the Planets were well-balanced against Albert Gallatin. Lily Javor finished with eight kills, while Rylee Wooldridge contributed five.

Setter Gabby Rossi finished with 30 assists for the Planets.

“We have five great attackers and we like to use all of them,” Caraway said. “They are all really talented and it's been a pleasure to see them work together during the season.”

Albert Gallatin could never seriously challenge Mars, only briefly evening the second set by splitting the first two points. The Colonials, who reached the first round by beating Derry in the play-in round, struggled to get into system on their attack.

“Honestly, I would say their attitude going into today was not good,” Albert Gallatin coach Baylee Groover said. “I don’t know what happened. Adjusting to anything today was tough for us.”

Albert Gallatin (9-9) committed nine attack errors in the first set. When Mars sent the ball over the net, the Colonials scrambled in serve-receive.

During the first set, Albert Gallatin fell behind 3-0 following two Colonials’ attack errors and a block by Christy.

“We came in with a lot of confidence in ourselves,” Christy said. “We didn’t know what we were coming into exactly because we’ve never seen this team before. We had to respect them. I was super excited for this game.”

Mars broke up the second set following an ace from Bella Childress to break the only tie of the match. That kicked off an 8-2 run by the Planets.

Mars didn’t let up in the third set, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. The Planets hope this success is a sign of bigger things to come.

There were a few stumbles, but Mars appeared ready for the postseason.

“It could have been cleaner, but they felt good,” Caraway said. “They worked things out and played together for the whole match.”