PIAA girls' volleyball: Spring Grove's run ends in state semifinals
When the ball fell for the last time Tuesday night, both teams cheered.
Pope John Paul II stormed the court and cheered because they were headed back to the PIAA Class 3A championship. Spring Grove cheered because they made it to the state semifinals.
"We peaked in the postseason, which isn't usual," McKenzie Boyer said of Spring Grove's run. "I'm just happy we made it this far. We came together at the perfect time."
The Rockets finished tied with Central York and South Western for second in YAIAA Division I, four games behind league champion Dallastown. They ran through the District 3 tournament to finish as the Class 3A runner-up.
They won two matches in the PIAA tournament, but that run came to an end Tuesday night at Garden Spot High School. Defending state champion PJP defeated Spring Grove 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-9).
Ironically, PJP hasn't lost since the Rockets defeated them in the second round of the 2021 state tournament, the year Spring Grove won the state title.
The Rockets hung with the Panthers in the first game, using timely kills from Boyer and Alayna Zeigler to keep the margin to several points. But then PJP found its groove from the service line and at the net.
Natalie Ricevuto, a 6-1 outside hitter headed for Division 1 Bryant College, set the tone at the net with three of her eight kills. Maeve Gallagher had one ace among her four service points.
Ricevuto is one of four PJP hitters who stand 5-11 or taller. Sophomore Norah Busch, a 6-1 middle hitter, led the Panthers with 11 kills and two blocks.
"We knew we needed big blocks and to play defense, just do our part," Boyer said.
Boyer led all Spring Grove hitters with 12 kills and Zeigler added 11. Macey Baum led the defense with 11 digs, to finish with 1,000 for her career.
"They came together as a team with a positive mindset through the ups and downs," coach Liz Zeigler said. "We were able to figure out how to work together. I'm super excited how they turned it around."
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: PIAA girls' volleyball: Spring Grove's run ends in state semifinals
