Baldwin boys volleyball team back in WPIAL playoffs
The Baldwin High School boys volleyball team has been a regular in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs since Eric Falcione took over as coach of the program in 1999.
Baldwin has earned a WPIAL playoff berth 11 times in Falcione's 14 years, including nine of the past 10 years.
"It's been great to coach at my alma mater," Falcione said. "I'm very proud of what the program has accomplished in my tenure. I just wish we had a better record in the first round [of the playoffs]."
Baldwin made its fifth consecutive playoff appearance on Tuesday as No. 9 seed in the 13-team WPIAL Class AAA bracket. Unfortunately, the Highlanders dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 8 seed Penn-Trafford on the road. It was Baldwin's fifth consecutive loss in the first round.
"We've only been able to make it out of the first round twice," Falcione said. "Our best finish came in 2006 when we made it to the quarterfinals."
Falcione used a 10-player rotation which included four seniors, 5-foot-10 outside hitter Mark Brendel, 6-4 middle hitter Jordan Hartman, 5-8 libero Tyler Green and 5-7 defensive specialist Phil Mongiat.
"Mark is a two-year starter who is also one of the fastest runners on our track team," Falcione said. "Last year, he played tennis. This year he decided to run track and qualified for [today's] WPIAL track meet as a sprinter. He has a chance to get a scholarship to run track at Duquesne University.
"Jordan is our top gun. He's one of the best middle hitters in the section. Tyler is one of the best liberos in the section."
Juniors Jeff Remlinger and Greg Stofanek are also two-year starters. Remlinger is a 6-0 left-handed opposite, while Stofanek is a 6-3 outside hitter.
"Jeff surprised teams with his blocking," Falcione said. "Greg will probably be our best all-around player next year. It's nice to have both back, along with several others."
Fitz Doyle, a 6-1 junior, handled the setting duties for the Highlanders.
"Fitz set during one match last season against Bethel Park," Falcione said. "This was his first season as a starter. He became more comfortable with our offense as the season went on. It's great to have him back next season."
The other three underclassmen in Baldwin's 10-player rotation were 6-2 junior middle hitter Max Schaefer, 5-6 junior defensive specialist Ben Scherz and 6-0 sophomore middle hitter Shane Perko.
Also expected back next season is Stefan Ayers, a 6-1 junior middle hitter who misssed the season with a shoulder injury. He started for the Highlanders as a freshman and sophomore.
Tournament update
Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, and Peters Township also qualified for the Class AAA bracket.
Bethel Park was seeded No. 4 after tying with Upper St. Clair for the Section 1 title, as both finished with 9-1 records. The Black Hawks defeated No. 13 Fox Chapel, 3-0, in Tuesday's first round.
Upper St. Clair was seeded No. 6 and swept No. 11 Pine-Richland, 3-0, in the first round.
Peters Township, the No. 12 seed, lost a 3-1 decision to No. 5 Greater Latrobe in the first round.
Bethel Park will face Latrobe in tonight's quarterfinals at North Allegheny at 6 p.m.
Upper St. Clair will face No. 3 seed Norwin tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Norwin. The Knights drew a first-round bye.
Class AA playoffs
South Park, Seton-LaSalle, Keystone Oaks and Steel Valley qualified for the 13-team Class AA bracket.
No. 5 seed South Park swept No. 12 St. Joseph, 3-0, in the first round.
Seton LaSalle, the No. 7 seed, lost to No. 10 seed Hopewell, 3-2.
Keystone Oaks, the No. 9 seed, edged No. 8 Elderton, 3-2.
Steel Valley, the No. 11 seed, lost to No. 6 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3-0.
"This is my third year with the team, but my first year as head coach," said Steel Valley coach Ja'Quan McNeil. "Our goal was to make it back to the playoffs [for the sixth consecutive year] and we accomplished that."
South Park will face No. 4 Montour in the quarterfinals tonight at Ambridge at 6 p.m.
Keystone Oakswill face No. 1 seed Ambridge at 7:30 p.m. at Ambridge. The Bridgers enjoyed a first-round bye.
Baldwin has earned a WPIAL playoff berth 11 times in Falcione's 14 years, including nine of the past 10 years.
"It's been great to coach at my alma mater," Falcione said. "I'm very proud of what the program has accomplished in my tenure. I just wish we had a better record in the first round [of the playoffs]."
Baldwin made its fifth consecutive playoff appearance on Tuesday as No. 9 seed in the 13-team WPIAL Class AAA bracket. Unfortunately, the Highlanders dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 8 seed Penn-Trafford on the road. It was Baldwin's fifth consecutive loss in the first round.
"We've only been able to make it out of the first round twice," Falcione said. "Our best finish came in 2006 when we made it to the quarterfinals."
Falcione used a 10-player rotation which included four seniors, 5-foot-10 outside hitter Mark Brendel, 6-4 middle hitter Jordan Hartman, 5-8 libero Tyler Green and 5-7 defensive specialist Phil Mongiat.
"Mark is a two-year starter who is also one of the fastest runners on our track team," Falcione said. "Last year, he played tennis. This year he decided to run track and qualified for [today's] WPIAL track meet as a sprinter. He has a chance to get a scholarship to run track at Duquesne University.
"Jordan is our top gun. He's one of the best middle hitters in the section. Tyler is one of the best liberos in the section."
Juniors Jeff Remlinger and Greg Stofanek are also two-year starters. Remlinger is a 6-0 left-handed opposite, while Stofanek is a 6-3 outside hitter.
"Jeff surprised teams with his blocking," Falcione said. "Greg will probably be our best all-around player next year. It's nice to have both back, along with several others."
Fitz Doyle, a 6-1 junior, handled the setting duties for the Highlanders.
"Fitz set during one match last season against Bethel Park," Falcione said. "This was his first season as a starter. He became more comfortable with our offense as the season went on. It's great to have him back next season."
The other three underclassmen in Baldwin's 10-player rotation were 6-2 junior middle hitter Max Schaefer, 5-6 junior defensive specialist Ben Scherz and 6-0 sophomore middle hitter Shane Perko.
Also expected back next season is Stefan Ayers, a 6-1 junior middle hitter who misssed the season with a shoulder injury. He started for the Highlanders as a freshman and sophomore.
Tournament update
Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, and Peters Township also qualified for the Class AAA bracket.
Bethel Park was seeded No. 4 after tying with Upper St. Clair for the Section 1 title, as both finished with 9-1 records. The Black Hawks defeated No. 13 Fox Chapel, 3-0, in Tuesday's first round.
Upper St. Clair was seeded No. 6 and swept No. 11 Pine-Richland, 3-0, in the first round.
Peters Township, the No. 12 seed, lost a 3-1 decision to No. 5 Greater Latrobe in the first round.
Bethel Park will face Latrobe in tonight's quarterfinals at North Allegheny at 6 p.m.
Upper St. Clair will face No. 3 seed Norwin tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Norwin. The Knights drew a first-round bye.
Class AA playoffs
South Park, Seton-LaSalle, Keystone Oaks and Steel Valley qualified for the 13-team Class AA bracket.
No. 5 seed South Park swept No. 12 St. Joseph, 3-0, in the first round.
Seton LaSalle, the No. 7 seed, lost to No. 10 seed Hopewell, 3-2.
Keystone Oaks, the No. 9 seed, edged No. 8 Elderton, 3-2.
Steel Valley, the No. 11 seed, lost to No. 6 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3-0.
"This is my third year with the team, but my first year as head coach," said Steel Valley coach Ja'Quan McNeil. "Our goal was to make it back to the playoffs [for the sixth consecutive year] and we accomplished that."
South Park will face No. 4 Montour in the quarterfinals tonight at Ambridge at 6 p.m.
Keystone Oakswill face No. 1 seed Ambridge at 7:30 p.m. at Ambridge. The Bridgers enjoyed a first-round bye.
volleyball