Over the last decade, there hasn’t been a more dominating high school volleyball program in Pennsylvania than North Allegheny. The girls captured their fifth straight state championship in the fall, and the boys’ team, whose season has just begun, is aiming for their fourth consecutive state title.

The volleyball program at North Allegheny is a beacon of success and a staple of consistency in a sport that requires enormous athletic ability.  Such ability was on full display on the boys’ side last spring, as last season’s seniors dominated the competition.  But they are now in college, and the challenge is upon on a new corps of talent to pick up where last year’s leaders left off.

Led by long-time contributors Caleb Schall and Cole Dorn, along with Ryan Treser, Jack Birch, Stephen Laun, Ben Huet, Zach Brkovich, and Jake Koch, the Tigers look to four-peat in the PIAA scene with a statement season.  In fact, had the COVID year not been canceled and had the boys won the state title that year, they would be on pace to match the girls’ streak.

The Tigers, though, are well aware of the pressure they face this upcoming season.

“There is definitely a lot of pressure to carry on the standard of the teams in the past,” Treser said. “There are some big shoes to fill from last year, but I think our guys can step up”.

Losing valuable seniors always burdens a team, but senior outside hitter and St. Francis University volleyball commit Cole Dorn has seen previous NA boys’ squads rise to the challenge.

“Winning has been a tradition for NA volleyball, and we face the same pressure every year to uphold that tradition,” he said.

Dorn has been a main contributor to NA’s volleyball’s success over his career, but he knows the Tigers do not have a free ride. Seneca Valley is one opponent that poses a serious threat to the team’s ambitions.

“Seneca is our biggest rival,” Dorn said. “I know they want nothing more than to beat us this year. They have a strong team with three returning starters and two Division One commits.”

NA ripped Seneca’s hearts out last May in the WPIAL Championship match, and the Raiders will surely come back with a vengeance. The two teams will square off on April 22nd at NASH.

With the streak on the line, this year’s boys’ team should be fun to watch for fans and parents alike. NA has another powerhouse squad, but it won’t be easy to achieve what Kobe and Jordan could not — the all-elusive fourth straight title.