As spring sports come to an end, WPIAL playoffs are now front and center, and the Boys’ Volleyball team has is doing well. This year has been interesting for the team, as the team lost many seniors, as well as their head coach Dan Schall. The program the past four seasons held a record of 83 wins and one loss. 

However, this year has proven to be a little different, as the team had a regular season record of nine wins and three losses. The drop-off from last year has been something that many are keeping an eye on, but the team has impressed by finishing the regular season with four straight wins, earning a bye as the second seed in the WPIAL tournament.

Led by new head coach and former assistant Dan Long, the team has found its rhythm at the right time as they eliminated the Seneca Valley Raiders 3-1 in the WPIAL Quarterfinals. They faced off against the Penn-Trafford Warriors last night at Fox Chapel High School, securing a 3-1 victory and advancing to the championship. 

With a different coach and a different lineup this year, senior middle blocker Varun Kaveti remains confident about his team’s chances in the WPIAL.

”We’ve been in this position every year so pressure is nothing new,” Kaveti said. “I’m really proud of how our underclassmen have assimilated their roles as big playmakers, so I’m definitely looking forward to how this week plays out.”

Kaveti has been impressive this whole season but made a huge statement in an unbelievable performance against Seneca Valley last week with nine kills and a team-best five blocks. The Tigers will definitely need the same energy and production from Kaveti if they want to win the tournament. 

Junior setter Ryan Quatman knows that winning once won’t make winning twice any easier.

“The rest of the way is going to be a tough process against tough teams, but that’s what we’ve been practicing for all season,” Quatman said. “We don’t want to play any easy teams. We want to play the best.” 

What seems to be motivating the Tigers more than ever is the fact that people seem to have forgotten about their past following last year’s state championship run and the graduation of standout seniors Jack Birch, Cole Dorn, and Caleb Schall. 

But junior outside hitter Sreeman Koka feels that until another team dethrones the Tigers, the WPIAL Boys’ Volleyball Tournament remains the Tiger Invitational.

“We realize that everyone is coming after us this year, but we’ve been preparing for it day after day, practice after practice.” Koka said. “To be the best, you have to beat the best. It is our time to prove why we’re still the best.” 

The Tigers will face Shaler in the WPIAL championship tomorrow evening at Peter Township HS.