Among the many NA varsity sports programs that have dominated the WPIAL over the last two decades, the Boys’ Volleyball program has earned its spot among the very best. Since 2015-16, the team has made it to the state playoffs every year, and in four consecutive years during that stretch, they have won the state championship.

Despite their longtime success, the Tigers have bowed out in the first round of the state playoffs in each of the last two years.

“I think we gained a lot of experience from last year, and I think that will help us as we try to win a state championship,” junior middle hitter Peter Bratich said.

If Tuesday’s season opener against the 2024 state champions was any indication, Bratich is correct. On Tuesday night the Tigers opened their season against friendly foe, Shaler. The Titans have recently held the upper hand against the Tigers, as they defeated NA in back-to-back WPIAL championship games, which certainly left a sour taste and a sense of something to prove for NA.

The Tigers responded on Tuesday with a win in straight sets.

“The team played well,” junior libero Emmett Morris said. “It felt good to get revenge for last year’s WPIAL title match.”

An oddity surrounding this year’s boys’ team is the age. The team’s starting lineup is usually around 75% seniors, but this year the junior class is taking up more of the hardwood. 

Two All-State players returned to action on Tuesday, Bratich and junior outside hitter Will Robertson.  Bratich and Robertson are joined by nine other juniors on the roster. Ten of the juniors play on the same same off-season club team, Sandlot. The juniors’ Sandlot roster is all varsity for NA this season, and they’ve had immense success playing together over the winters and summers, having qualified for nationals since they started playing together in 7th grade.

“I think playing together all these years has really connected us not just as players,” Bratich said. “It has given us the idea of playing as a family and I think that’s why our school team has found success. We’re always playing together.”

Even though the junior class has been so impressive, the seniors on the roster offer significant strengths. Among the senior leaders are Garen White and Elijah Braun, who have also been playing together for multiple years on Sandlot. The seniors have high expectations for this season after a disappointing end to last.

“Losing early in the state playoffs the last couple of years definitely left a bitter taste in our mouths,” White said. “We’re motivated to win not just a WPIAL championship but a state championship as well.” 

Although Tuesday’s commanding win was a positive sign, the boys know that challenges lie ahead.

“Our depth can be a challenge,” said junior outside hitter Brendan Moore, who earned Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors on Tuesday. “We have a lot of good players, and it can be hard to give everyone the chance they deserve.”

NA sits atop the WPIAL preseason polls, but the goal with this team is different. For a program that takes pride in its illustrious history, this group wants its own page in the record books. They want to be state champs, and by all indications, they’ve got a good chance at doing so. 

The boys play tonight in an away match at North Hills.