The Deer Lakes boys volleyball team is turning around its fortunes this spring, both in section play and beyond.
The Lancers, 1-15 a year ago, head into Monday’s nonsection match with Section 3-2A leader Seton LaSalle at 7-2 overall and 3-1 in Section 1 play.
“The players came into the season very dedicated to getting the team back to winning,” third-year coach Devin Reiher said.
“A lot of the guys played club together last season, all on the same team. The chemistry they built was valuable as they came into this season. I could see that immediately. It is really helping them push forward.”
Deer Lakes, fronted by team captain Colby Sutch, a junior outside hitter, started the season on the right foot with a 3-2 win over South Park followed by another 3-2 win over Class 3A Fox Chapel.
The Lancers started 3-0 in the section with 3-0 wins over Summit Academy and Steel Valley and a 3-1 triumph over McKeesport.
Reiher said the team was able to take stock of things after a 3-0 setback to section rival Derry earlier this week. It got back in the win column Thursday with a sweep of Aquinas Academy.
“It was really important for the guys to get a win back under their belts,” Reiher said.
“They played like they had something to prove. Derry was definitely a tough loss for them as they had been undefeated in the section. The win hopefully will get them back into the practice gym focused and ready to work hard to prepare for a number of important matches coming up and also when they see Derry again.”
Tri-State championships
An early-season tradition continues Saturday as many of the top teams and athletes from the WPIAL and beyond test themselves at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association outdoor championships at West Mifflin.
Forty-six schools, including Freeport, Plum, Riverview and Springdale, are on the list to send athletes.
Field events start at 9:45 with heats on the track beginning at 10:15. Each team will be permitted to enter up to three for individual events and one for the relays.
Freeport sophomore Mackenzie Magness made her mark to the larger WPIAL audience at last year’s Tri-State meet as she set a new outdoor school record in the pole vault and placed second overall with a top height of 11 feet, 7 inches.
Saturday’s weather forecast at West Mifflin calls for temperatures in the low-to-mid-40s with the biggest chance for rain showers — 25% — at the start of the meet before decreasing from there.
Flag football ramps up
Plum, Burrell and Deer Lakes have victories on their minds as they focus on their next set of games in the high school girls flag football league coordinated by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bucs and Lancers are in their inaugural seasons, whereas Plum returned to action this spring after a 2024 debut that saw it win four of its 10 games.
Burrell and Plum both are members of the Eastern Division with McKeesport, Latrobe, Penn Hills, Woodland Hills, Gateway, Jeannette, Greensburg Salem and Propel Braddock Hills.
The Bucs and Mustangs play at noon Sunday at Woodland Hills. Plum then plays Propel at 1, and Burrell takes on Gateway at the same time.
The Bucs hope to get in the win column for the first time. They are 0-3 so far with losses to Latrobe, Penn Hills and McKeesport.
The Mustangs, 2-1 after two weeks, beat Penn Hills, 19-12, on March 30 and split games with Greensburg Salem (12-0 win) and Woodland Hills (7-6 loss in overtime) last Sunday at Gateway.
Deer Lakes, a member of the Northern Division, is 1-2 after two weeks of play. The Lancers fell to Seneca Valley and Shaler before getting into the win column 12-0 over North Catholic last Sunday at New Castle.
They return to action Wednesday against North Allegheny (6:30 p.m.) and New Castle (7:30) at North Allegheny High School.
Mustangs adapt
The Plum girls lacrosse team established itself in Class 2A in recent seasons with several trips to the WPIAL playoffs.
Now the Mustangs are working on getting their footing in their debut season in Class 3A.
Plum, which faced WPIAL Class 2A power Hampton on Friday, drew within one win of .500 earlier this week with a dominating 12-1 nonsection victory at Armstrong behind a pair of goals each from Brooke Price, Jess Hartley, Natalie Wagner and Ella Pedley. Pedley added a pair of assists for the Mustangs, who improved to 4-5 overall.
Plum started 1-4 in Section 1. But it left no doubt in its section win, a 17-4 triumph over Latrobe on March 28 that saw Pedley lead the way with four goals. Wagner, Carly Venanzi and Olivia Iachini added three goals apiece, and Malayna Smith helped the Mustangs secure the win with 13 saves.
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Plum also picked up key wins over North Allegheny (12-8 on March 14) and Indiana (8-6 on March 20).
Recruiting
Valley senior wrestlers Arianna Bernard and Paula Sanchez will continue their careers at NCAA Division III Waynesburg.
Bernard was 25-9 this season with 19 pins at 190 pounds. She was the WPIAL runner-up, finished fourth at regionals and seventh in the state.
Sanchez was 19-11 with 14 pins at 124 pounds and took sixth at the WPIAL championships.