Nov 3, 2025 By Jerin Steele 3 min read

Some are riding the high of winning a WPIAL championship and others are looking to rebound, but each of the five local teams that qualified for the state playoffs in their respective sports have something in common.

They all needed a reset before a new journey begins tonight.

A WPIAL season is a grueling one, but the chance to play for a state title is the reward for a strong year in the district.

The Bentworth boys and girls soccer teams, the South Fayette girls soccer team and the Peters Township and Waynesburg girls volleyball teams all qualified for the PIAA playoffs.

Bentworth boys and girls both won WPIAL titles last Thursday. The girls beat Sewickley Academy 1-0 in the Class A girls final on a late goal by Brielle Dillon and a couple hours later the boys completed a WPIAL three-peat with a 3-1 win over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Ryan Moessner scored twice and Adam Moessner had a goal.

They’ll get another doubleheader in the first round of states today at Peters Township Middle School.

The Bentworth girls play McConnellsburg, the second-place team in District 5, at 4 p.m. and the boys play Mercyhurst Prep of District 10 at 6 p.m.

The Bearcats boys played Mercyhurst Prep in the state quarterfinals last year and won 1-0.

Rematches have become commonplace in the playoffs for the Bentworth boys. They played Beaver County Christian in the WPIAL semifinals for a second consecutive year and OLSH in the WPIAL championship for the second straight time.

“It’s kind of like déjà vu’ from last year,” Bearcats boys coach Nick Malarbi said. “We took a couple days off before we got back to it.”

The South Fayette girls start the Class 3A state tournament at Hollidaysburg, at 5 p.m.

The Lions saw their streak of WPIAL Class 3A championships snapped at two, after a 1-0 loss in double overtime to Fox Chapel.

South Fayette didn’t get its district three-peat, but will look to make a run in the state playoffs after falling to Mars in the quarterfinals last year and in the first round to Montour in 2023.

There’s potential for a rematch with Fox Chapel if both reach the state semifinals.

“I told the girls that we have more to play for,” South Fayette coach Nick Rosser said after Wednesday’s loss to Fox Chapel. “There’s still a goal out there to reach. It’s a lot to take in right now in the moment (Wednesday), but there’s more to worry about down the road.”

Volleyball

Peters Township won its first WPIAL volleyball title Saturday by sweeping Pine-Richland, 3-0, in the Class 4A final.

Now the Indians will try for a first state championship.

They host Mannheim Township, the fourth-place team in District 3, at 6 p.m.

Indians coach Chris Kelly said earlier in their playoff run that the team may have arrived early, because they are young with sophomores and freshmen in the frontcourt, but seem to be right on time.

Sophomores Alex Knox and Maddie Carroll had 14 kills each in the win over Pine-Richland.

Waynesburg is in the PIAA playoffs for the first time in program history.

The Raiders play at District 10 champion Corry at 6 p.m.

After suffering a heartbreaking five-set loss to Avonworth in the semifinals, the Raiders rebounded to beat OLSH in four-sets in the consolation game to earn a state playoff berth.

Senior outside hitter Ani Cree had 23 kills in the semifinal loss to Avonworth.