PIAA Volleyball Preview Capsule
Class A First Round
Marian (18-2) vs. Towanda (20-1)
When: Today, 6 p.m.
Where: Shamokin Area High School
Ticket prices: $6 per adult, $3 per student
About the Fillies
Head coach: John Fallabel
How they got here: Defeated Tri-Valley 3-0 and Nativity 3-2 for its fourth straight District 11 championship
Starting rotation: Abby Pilla (sr., MH), Courtney McCall (sr., S), Maureen Kloap (sr., OH), Jasmine Mooney (soph., OH), Miranda Antiga (jr., RS-OH), Abby Stankiewitch (sr., MH), Danielle Spillman (sr., DS)
Key facts: Marian enters the PIAA Tournament for the fourth straight year after earning its third straight Schuylkill League title and fourth consecutive district crown. ... In its PIAA run, the Fillies lost in the semifinals to Williamson in 2012, beat Cochranton for the state title in 2013 and lost in the title match to Greensburg Central Catholic last year. ... Kloap led the Fillies in the district tournament with 29 kills and 25 digs in two matches. Mooney had 25 kills and 25 digs, while Stankiewitch, named the Schuylkill League’s Division II Player of the Year, had 25 kills. ... The Fillies have won 17 straight matches.
About the Black Knights
Head coach: Linda Messner
How they got here: Defeated Galeton 3-1 and North Penn-Liberty 3-0 for the District 4 championship.
Starting rotation: Jayde Parsons (sr., L), Kendra Abrams (jr.), Sarah Dawsey (sr.), Elizabeth Schultz (jr.), Nahomy Hidalgo (jr.), Sydney Schoonover (fr.).
Key facts: Towanda won its first district championship since 2011, but the program has 21 district championships overall. ... Towanda won the Tunkhannock Tournament championship. ... Dawsey had 12 kills and 10 digs in the District 4 title match. Hidalgo posted 10 digs and 16 assists. Schultz had 12 digs while Parsons had 13. Welliver had 12 kills. ... Reserve Ally Tama, a junior, had 13 digs and 15 assists in Towanda’s semifinal win over Galeton. ... The Black Knights’ lone loss was a 3-0 defeat to North Penn-Liberty on Oct. 15.
Up next
Winner faces the winner of today’s match between District 12 champion MaST Charter andr District 1 champion Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Saturday’s quarterfinals.
— Compiled by Chuck Curley