Bishop Carroll handles Serra Catholic to advance to PIAA Class 1A volleyball quarterfinals

EBENSBURG, Pa. – Bishop Carroll Catholic entered the PIAA tournament for the first time in seven years, yet the team demonstrated the same poise and assurance that led them to their district championship. Although they trailed at various points in the second and third sets against District 7 runner-up Serra Catholic, Bishop Carroll managed to regain control and clinch a 25-16, 25-22, 25-17 victory in a thrilling match on Tuesday.

Senior Olivia Gregg was the team's standout player, amassing a match-high 18 kills and 17 digs. The Huskies capitalized on a pair of five-point runs, reaching a high of 19-9 in the opening set. Serra Catholic (17-3) quickly responded, taking a 9-5 lead in the second set before a six-point run shifted the momentum in their favor and forced a timeout for Bishop Carroll.

Despite the setback, the Huskies, guided by their coach's confidence, staged a strong comeback with a five-point run, including four consecutive kills from Gregg and one by Lily Strait. The Huskies briefly tied the score at 21-all before Serra Catholic evened the match with a block. Bishop Carroll then secured the set with three points.

Senior Adison Myers delivered an ace to put the Huskies ahead 22-21, and another ace put them in the lead 25-17. The Eagles attempted to close the gap, but Bishop Carroll's strong hitting and fewer errors ultimately secured the victory. Coach Kate Patrick acknowledged the team's resilience, stating, "We weren't playing Bishop Carroll volleyball during that stretch." The team will face District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley in Saturday's quarterfinals.