<div>Tuesday night was the half way point of the 2024 girls’ volleyball season, and the Hempfield Spartans and the Greater Latrobe Wildcats sat 1 – 2 in section three of the AAAA classification.The Spartans grabbed the first point of set one, and from then on it was a see-saw battle, with neither team able to build more than a 3- point advantage. Late in the match the Spartans were able to gain one of the 3-point advantages at 20 – 23, but the Cat’s would not back down, rallying to tie the score at 24 – 24. Latrobe scored the next point to gain the match point advantage, but Hempfield countered with a point of their own to tie the score again, 25 – 25. From that point it was a serving error by the Spartans, and a kill for the Cat’s for the two points necessary to secure set one for Latrobe 27- 25. Sets two and three saw the same spirted battle between the two teams, but the Cat’s had the confidence and momentum, and by scores of 25 – 20 and 25 – 22 swept the match 3-0, handed the Spartans their first section loss, and now sit atop of the W.P.I.A.L section standings. The win sets Latrobe’s overall record at 7 – 1, and 4 – 1 in the section.Setting the pace for Latrobe on offense was Senior Co-Captain Chiara Mongelluzzo recording 11 kills in the match. MacKenzie Myers posted a kill total of 7, Mia Myers chalked up 6 kills, Ashley Deniker 5, Savannah Repak 4, and Clair Benning 2 on the night.Latrobe’s setters were able to frustrate the Hempfield defenders as they skillfully distributed the volleyball between the six Wildcats hitters. Junior Brie Havrilla accounted for 18 assists and Senior MacKenzie Meyers dished out 11 assists in the victory. Service aces and blocks added to the Wildcats’ scoring totals as Mia Myers produced 2 aces, with Savannah Repak and Peyton Ferraro each recorded 1 ace. Four Wildcats points came via the block with MacKenzie Myers leading the way with 2 blocks, and Ashley Denike and Savannah Repak each producing 1 block each.Latrobe’s defense efforts were led by Bri Havrilla, Havrilla posted a dig total of 8 to top the defensive stats, with Chiara Mongelluzzo right behind with 7. 11 additional digs were turned in by Mia Myers, Peyton Ferraro, Ashley Deniker, and MacKenzie Myers, 4, 3 ,2, and 1 respectively.Latrobe’s JV was just as intense as the varsity match, but unfortunately with a different outcome. By the set scores of 20 – 25, and 19 – 25, the Latrobe JV dropped their match to the Spartan JAV squad. Natalia Scekeres grabbed top offensive honors for the second match in a row with her 5 kills, and 3 service aces with Maggie Maires posting 4 kills and 2 services aces. A quartet of wildcats, Claire Benning, Madden Gresh, Madison Balko and Lizzy Heitchue, each accounted to 2 kills eachDirecting the JV offense, Alonna Sager distributed 9 assists to the JV hitters and Emma Ruby dished out 8 assists in the match. On the defensive side of the game, Claire Benning and Emma Ruby set the bar for the JV Cat’s, each with 3 digs. Alonna Sager, Abby Webb, and Abbie Strauser each produced 2 digs, and Natalia Scekeres and Lizzy Heitchue posted 1 dig each. The Wildcat’s continue their home stand Thursday night with an exhibition match against the Laurel Highlands Mustangs.</div>

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Girls Varsity Volleyball beats Hempfield Area 3 – 0

Tuesday night was the half way point of the 2024 girls’ volleyball season, and the Hempfield Spartans and the Greater Latrobe Wildcats sat 1 – 2 in section three of the AAAA classification. The Spartans grabbed the first point of set one, and from then on it was...