Big Macs fall to NA in WPIAL finals
McMURRAY – Volleyball, when played by schools of similar talent, is an emotional affair that is usually decided by the final run of the match.
For North Allegheny, the defending PIAA Class 4A champion, that call came during the Tigers’ run of four straight points that handed them a 3-1 victory over Canon-McMillan Saturday at AHN Arena on the campus of Peters Township.
The Tigers scored the last four points for a 25-23 victory over the Big Macs and earned North Allegheny another WPIAL title while sending Canon-McMillan down to a heart-wrenching loss.
And it all came down to a net interference call that was open to question.
“I don’t think she touched it,” said Sheila Mitchell, the Big Macs’ head volleyball coach.
“I didn’t see it,” said Russ Hoburg, North Allegheny’s head coach.
North Allegheny won Game 1, 25-21, and Game 3, 25-13 and Canon-McMillan captured Game 2, 25-13.
The interference call would not have given a win to Canon-McMillan. The Big Macs would have needed to score two points, then win Game 5, a 15-point affair.
“We didn’t stay calm,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t make as many plays in the beginning. We came out a little short in the first set and they still fought for every point up through the fourth set.”
Canon-McMillan started strong in three of the four games. The Big Macs led North Allegheny, 6-1 and 11-5 in Game 1, 10-3 in Game 2, and 9-5 in Game 4. The only time Canon-McMillan sagged in the beginning was Game 3, where the Big Macs trailed 6-1 and 12-3.
Like most rules in sport, it’s a judgment call and this one hurt Canon-McMillan. The Big Macs would have owned a 24-21 edge had the call not been made.
“The refs don’t play the game,” said Mitchell, in her 13th season as C-M’s coach. “We can’t let them win the game. We had a great game overall. They just had a couple more than us. Our momentum kind of fell. The only thing we might have done is keep our momentum up. But I don’t know. I don’t think there is a lot to change.”
These two teams qualify for the PIAA tournament. Neither Mitchell nor Hoburg were sure who the first-round opponent would be.
Hoburg felt the call didn’t decide the outcome.
“I don’t know that one call can change a game,” Hoburg said. “I thought (the officials) did a great job. I trust them. They have a good view of it.”
For Canon-McMillan (15-4), Natalie Carr had 18 kills and seven digs. Abby Tucker had 13 kills and Lilly Thornbury had four kills and four blocks. Josey Carter had 22 assists and six digs and Olivia Gross added 18 assists, four kills and six digs. Julia Murdy added 13 digs and Sophie Powell contributed seven digs.
For North Allegheny (16-1), Avery Butcher had 17 digs and Kyra Schmidt added eight digs and nine kills. Jordan Frisco had seven digs. Mackenzie Jones led with 19 assists and 14 for Molly Robertson.