10. Saegertown boys VB wins second straight D-10 title; advance to state quarterfinals

Turns out winning the program’s first District 10 championship last year was just the beginning for the Saegertown boys volleyball team.

This year, the Panthers added to that accomplishment and in a big way. Saegertown, which was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class AA throughout the year, captured its first region title, defended its District 10 crown and then knocked off Hopewell to earn its first trip to the state quarterfinals.

The Panthers’ quest for the school’s first team title came to an end in the quarterfinal round of pool play at the PIAA Class AA state championships at Penn State University’s Multisport Indoor Facility. Saegertown went just 1-2, suffering a crucial loss to Garden Spot in the second round.

The loss put the Panthers in a must-win situation against top-ranked Ambridge. The Panthers played their best match of the day against the Bridgers, but it wasn’t enough.

Saegertown finished the season 18-4.

9. Cochranton girls volleyball has region winning streak snapped

Cochranton’s streak of 72 straight wins in region play came to an end on Oct. 9 with a 26-24, 25-23, 25-17 loss to rival Maplewood.

Maplewood, ironically, was the last team to take a match in league play from the Cardinals. That win came nearly five years earlier to the date on Oct. 14, 2003. Cochranton went on to win its last three matches of the French Creek Valley Conference season that year, before moving on to Region 2 where it had not lost a match prior to its meeting with the Tigers on Oct. 9.

Cochranton’s streak, which also included a streak of 101 straight wins in games played within the region at one point, is something 20-year head coach Marci Malliard said volleyball fans will probably never see again.

“It was a great thing,” Malliard said at the time. “When you think of how long we did it … it was good.”

“I think a lot of volleyball has gone on here in the last couple of years is volleyball that no one will ever see again,” she added. “It was a great thing that went on. It was.”