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Ellwood City, PA – The Hopewell Junior Varsity Volleyball Team (10-6) closed out its season Tuesday night with an impressive two-set sweep of Ellwood City, winning 25-14 and 25-12. The Vikings controlled both sets behind strong serving, balanced offensive production and consistent defensive play.

After a back-and-forth start to the opening set, Hopewell took control behind lengthy serving runs from Sam Holsinger & Brooke Otto, including back-to-back aces from Otto that helped extend the lead to 14-4. Lillian Otto contributed several kills, while Abby Babinsack added offense in the middle. Holsinger provided strong defensive play and an ace as the Vikings cruised to a 25-14 victory.

Hopewell carried that momentum into the second set, jumping ahead 11-4 behind strong serving from Babinsack and offensive contributions from Lillian Otto and Alyssa Phillips.  The defense continued their strong play as well, with Bella Cipolla providing some great passes and digs early in the second set.

Babinsack continued to dominate at the net, while Otto distributed the ball effectively and added an ace of her own. The Vikings maintained control throughout the set, finishing strong with a convincing 25-12 win.

Hopewell received contributions throughout its entire lineup, with Liliana Katcher, Ellie McCoy, Ava Ray, Sophia Catanzarite, Lily Cain, Gianna Rossi, Kelsey Homick & Geanna DiSanto all making plays during the match.

The victory capped an encouraging second half of the season for a young Vikings squad that made noticeable strides as the year progressed. After working through growing pains early in the schedule, Hopewell began playing with greater confidence, improved communication and more consistent execution on both sides of the net. The team’s offensive rhythm, defensive positioning and ability to sustain rallies all improved as players became more comfortable in their roles.

This group gained valuable experience throughout the fall, providing a promising foundation as the program looks ahead to next season.

Here’s the play-by-play from tonight’s season finale:

Set #1

1-0 A great rally on the opening point, going to Hopewell

2-3 A wide return stops an early Ellwood City run

3-3 Sam Holsinger on the serve, Hopewell ties it up

6-3 Hopewell grabbing an early lead off some Ellwood errors with Holsinger serving.

7-4 Lillian Otto with a kill off the set from Ellie McCoy.  Liliana Katcher with the pass.

8-4 Brooke Otto on the serve.  Sophia Catanzarite with a nice read on a wide return

10-4 Holsinger with a great defensive play on the dig, forcing the error

12-4 Otto on a serving run, timeout Ellwood City.

14-4 Otto with back-to-back aces

15-6 McCoy drops the overpass for a point

16-8 Katcher with a good read on a wide serve

17-9 Catanzarite and Lily Cain with a good give and go defensively

18-9 Ava Ray on the serve forcing the Ellwood error

19-9 Brooke Otto sets Abby Babinsack for a kill in the middle

21-10 Lillian Otto with the kill.  Set from Otto, pass from Babinsack

22-13 Gianna Rossi with a nice pass, freeballed over by Otto.

23-13 Holsinger with an ace

25-14 Hopewell finishes off Set #1

Set #2

1-0 Alyssa Philips with a down ball to get Hopewell started

2-0 Holsinger with the serve, error on Ellwood

3-0 Bella Cipolla with a free ball over forcing an error

4-2 Holsinger with a nice pass to Otto, setting Philips for the kill

5-2 Babinsack with a hard swing, forcing an error

6-4 Cipolla with a great defensive dig, forcing an Ellwood error

7-4 Lillian Otto with a kill

8-4 Babinsack with an ace

9-4 Otto with another kill.  Otto with the set, Babinsack with the pass

11-4 Babinsack with back-to-back aces

12-5 Hopewell with a nice defensive rally.  

13-5 Brooke Otto with an ace

14-6 Brooke Otto with a great dig out of the net.  Rossi with a good read on the long return.

15-6 Lillian Otto on the serve, Ellwood with the long return

18-10 Babinsack with the kill off Otto’s set

19-11 Kelsey Homick with a nice pass.  Philips finishes off the kill

20-11 Lillian Otto with a hit forcing the error

21-11 Katcher on the serve, forcing another error

22-12 Babinsack hammers a kill with authority.  Timeout Ellwood

23-12 Babinsack with the pass to Otto, who sets Otto for the kill

24-12 Babinsack with an ace

25-12 Hopewell finishes off the match and their season 

Ellwood City, PA – The Hopewell Vikings (8-8 / 7-5) closed out their regular season Tuesday night with a three-set sweep of Ellwood City, but the Wolverines proved to be a much tougher opponent in their second meeting.

Hopewell earned the 3-0 victory with set scores of 27-25, 25-23 and 25-19, overcoming several stretches that allowed Ellwood City to remain competitive throughout the match.

The Vikings appeared in control of the opening set, building a 19-12 advantage behind strong offensive play from Hannah McDowell and Mikayla Kurta. However, Ellwood City rallied all the way back to take a 23-22 lead and eventually earned three opportunities at set point. Hopewell answered each time, with critical kills from Avery Boyd and McDowell helping the Vikings escape with a 27-25 victory.

The second set followed a similar pattern. Ellwood City erased an early Hopewell lead and built an 18-14 advantage before Kurta sparked the comeback with several key kills. Boyd added timely offense, while setter Teagen Murray delivered a well-placed push shot to give Hopewell set point. Boyd finished the set with a kill to secure the 25-23 win.

Hopewell showed more consistency in the third set, although Ellwood City again rallied from a 14-8 deficit to pull within one. McDowell helped stop the momentum with a key kill and strong serving, while Addison Blosnick and Ariana Fischer contributed important points down the stretch. McDowell delivered the final kill to complete the sweep, 25-19.

Kurta and McDowell paced a balanced Viking attack, with Boyd, Blosnick and Fischer providing additional offensive production. Murray directed the offense effectively, while Marina Pinchotti, Cici Smetana and Tessa Burgess contributed defensively and from the service line.

Despite the sweep, Hopewell will need to limit unforced errors and do a better job protecting leads as the WPIAL playoffs get underway. With the regular season complete, the Vikings now turn their attention to postseason competition, where consistency and execution will be critical against stronger opponents. The Vikings now await the release of the WPIAL Class 3A playoff bracket later this week to learn their first-round opponent. Matchup details, including the date, time and location, will be shared once available.

Here is the play-by-play from tonight’s match:
Set #1
1-0 Tessa Burgess with a good read on a wide serve
2-2 Marina Pinchotti with another good read on a long serve
3-2 Mikayla Kurta with an ace

4-3 Hannah McDowell with a great play on a wide set for a kill
5-4 Ariana Fischer with the kill off the Teagen Murray set
6-4 Cici Smetana with an ace
7-6 Marina Pinchotti with a great read on a wide shot over her head
8-6 Pinchotti on the serve now, forcing an error
9-6 Addison Blosnick with a big swing for a kill
10-6 Kurta with a block at the net, finding the floor
12-7 McDowell with a push shot to the corner. Great bump set from Murray
13-7 Kurta with a hard swing, forcing an error
14-9 Kurta with another nice play at the net
15-9 Murray on the serve, forcing an Ellwood error. Timeout Wolverines
16-9 Murray with an ace
17-10 McDowell with a big swing for a kill. Burgess with a nice pass up
18-11 McDowell follows it up with a tip shot fooling the defense
19-12 McDowell pushes another one to the corner causing chaos
19-16 Ellwood making a push
20-16 A long serve that just goes over the back line
21-16 Murray with a great defensive play that Kurta flips over forcing an error
22-17 Kurta with a block at the net
22-20 Ellwood not going away. Timeout Hopewell
22-22 Ellwood ties up the set
22-23 Ellwood takes the lead
23-23 Murray with a tip at the net returned wide
23-24 Ellwood gets to set point
24-24 Avery Boyd with a kill to tie it back up
24-25 Ellwood on another set point
25-25 McDowell with a kill down the line
26-25 Hopewell gets to set point
27-25 Hopewell survives a tight opening set

Set #2
1-1 Hopewell on the board off an Ellwood error
2-1 McDowell with a big swing outside for a kill. Murray with a nice cross court set
3-1 Kurta tees off on a middle set for a kill
4-1 Burgess on the serve, forcing an error
5-2 Great back set from Murray to McDowell, who places a shot to the middle
6-2 Kurta with an ace
7-6 Ellwood on a run
8-6 Hopewell with a point on a wide return
9-6 Boyd with a kill off another backset from Murray
10-6 Fischer places a shoot set from Murray for a kill
12-8 Both teams trade serving errors
13-10 Smetana with a good read on a wide serve
14-10 Kurta with a kill off the Murray set
14-14 Ellwood on a run, ties it up
14-15 Ellwood grabs a lead mid-set
14-18 Ellwood continuing a strong second set. Timeout Hopewell
15-18 Kurta with a great play to flip one over a kill
16-18 Kurta with a kill off Murray’s set
17-18 McDowell tips one over for a point
18-19 Kurta hammers a kill
19-19 Boyd ties it back up with a kill off the Murray set
20-19 Kurta again with a kill
21-19 Murray on the serve, forcing an error. Timeout Ellwood
21-21 Ellwood ties it back up
22-21 Kurta with a big block at the net
23-21 Kurta with an ace
23-23 Tied up again
24-23 Murray pushes one over for a point to get to set point
25-23 Boyd places a kill to the middle to win another tight set

Set #3
1-0 McDowell with a big swing through the block to get started
1-1 Ellwood with the point, but a great back and forth rally
2-2 McDowell tips one over for a point
3-3 Fischer with a kill off Murray’s set. McDowell with a great pass
4-4 Blosnick with a kill that rides the net and drops for the point
5-4 Smetana on the serve, Ellwood with the long return
6-4 Fischer with the kill off Murray’s set
7-5 Blosnick with a kill
8-7 Blosnick with another kill after Ellwood had tied it up
9-8 McDowell pushes one over, this time short to the side
10-8 A long return from Ellwood. Murray on the serve
11-8 Another good serve from Murray forcing the error
12-8 A wide return extends the lead
13-8 Kurta with a middle kill off Murray’s set. Timeout Ellwood
14-8 McDowell with a nice play at the net for a point
15-14 Ellwood on a run getting back into the set
16-14 McDowell with a great right side kill to stop the run
17-14 McDowell with a great serve. Fischer blocks the overpass forcing an error
18-14 McDowell with an ace
20-15 Smetana with an ace
22-17 Pinchotti with an ace
23-17 Pinchotti with a serve, forcing the error
24-18 Blosnick with a huge swing to get Hopewell to match point
25-19 McDowell closes out the match with a kill.

HOPEWELL TWP, PA — Hopewell’s Junior Varsity Volleyball team (9-6) delivered one of its strongest performances of the season Thursday evening, rolling past Avonworth in straight sets, 25-10 and 25-14, to set the tone for the Senior Night festivities that followed.

The Vikings wasted little time taking control, racing to a 6-0 lead behind three early kills from Abby Babinsack and strong serving from Liliana Katcher. Hopewell’s offense continued to roll as Lillian Otto delivered several powerful attacks off sets from Brooke Otto, while Alyssa Phillips and Ellie McCoy contributed at the net. Strong defensive play and consistent serving kept Avonworth on its heels throughout the opening set, with the Vikings cruising to a 25-10 victory in arguably their most complete set of the season.

Avonworth briefly grabbed a 5-3 lead in the second set, but Hopewell responded with a commanding run behind Katcher’s serving, turning the deficit into a 15-5 advantage. Babinsack and Lillian Otto continued to lead the attack, while Ava Ray and McCoy added key plays offensively. Bella Cipolla, Sam Holsinger, and Gianna Rossi contributed to a strong defensive effort as the Vikings closed out the match, 25-14.

The victory showcased Hopewell’s offensive balance, aggressive serving, and improved consistency, with contributions throughout the lineup. As the regular season winds down, the Vikings will look to carry that same level of execution into Tuesday’s season finale at Ellwood City.

Here’s the play-by-play recap:

Set #1
1-0 Abby Babinsack gets it started with a kill.
2-0 Babinsack again, hammers it through the block.
3-0 Lillian Otto with a kill off the Brooke Otto set
4-0 Katcher on the serve. Bella Cipolla with a nice read on the wide return
5-0 Babinsack places a kill on the right side for another kill.
6-0 Katcher with an ace. Timeout Avonworth
7-2 Katcher and Ava Ray with a good read on a long serve
8-2 Sam Holsinger on the serve. Avonworth with an error
9-3 Ray with another good read on a long serve
10-3 Avonworth with a wide return
11-3 Brooke Otto on the serve. Ellie McCoy buries the overpass
12-3 Lillian Otto with a kill. Great pass from Holsinger, Otto with the set. Timeout Lopes
13-4 Otto with another kill off the Otto backset
14-4 A great defensive rally. Brooke Otto finishes it with dump forcing the error
15-4 Alyssa Philips with a kill
16-4 Lillian Otto with an ace
17-5 Sophia Catanzarite with a down ball forcing an error
18-5 Bella Cipolla with an ace
19-6 Katcher with a nice read on a long freeball from Avonworth
20-6 Ray with an ace
21-8 Philips with a kill off a great outside set from Otto
22-9 Otto & Otto connect for another set & kill
23-9 Holsinger with an ace
24-10 Hopewell reaches set point on a net error by Avonworth
25-10 Brooke Otto on the serve, McCoy drops the overpass. Best set of the year for Hopewell JV

Set #2
1-0 Hopewell on the board off an Avonworth error
2-0 Holsinger on the serve. Long return by the Lopes
3-0 Holsinger with an ace
3-5 Avonworth on an early run, grabs a lead
5-5 Katcher with an ace
6-5 Katcher with another serve. Forcing the error
7-5 Cipolla with a great pass, Otto sets Otto for the kill
8-5 Katcher with another ace
9-5 Babinsack with a strong kill. Timeout Avonworth
10-5 Katcher with an ace out of the timeout
12-5 Katcher dodges a long return
13-5 Avonworth with another wide return. Katcher on a nice run serving
15-5 Katcher with deep serve, forcing an error
16-7 Otto with a strong hit, forcing another error
17-9 Avonworth with a serving error
19-10 Ray places a kill in the back corner off the Otto backset
20-10 Lillian Otto on the serve, forcing the error
21-10 McCoy with the block
22-10 McCoy with the rare set to Ray forcing an error
23-12 Gianna Rossi with a good read on a long serve
24-12 Brooke Otto; Babinsack with a give and go for a kill. Match point.
25-14 Cipolla with an excellent pass. Hopewell finishes off a dominant performance!

HOPEWELL TWP, PA — It was an evening of celebration and recognition at Hopewell High School Thursday night as the Vikings honored five seniors before taking the court against Avonworth. While the visiting Antelopes quieted the celebration with a three-set sweep, the night provided an opportunity to recognize a senior class that has helped to positively shape the Hopewell Volleyball Program over the years.

Prior to the match, Hopewell recognized team manager Chris Nguyen, along with Ayla Pisano, Marina Pinchotti, Avery Boyd, and Mikayla Kurta. Escorted by their families, each senior was honored for their dedication, leadership, and accomplishments both on and off the court. The ceremony highlighted academic and athletic achievements, memorable section championships and WPIAL playoff runs, and the lasting impact this group has made on the program. It was a fitting tribute to five seniors who have helped establish a standard for the next generation of Vikings.

Once play began, Avonworth quickly took control of the opening set, using an early scoring run to build a commanding lead as Hopewell struggled to establish its offense. Kills from Boyd, Addison Blosnick, and Kurta provided some bright spots, but the Vikings were unable to slow the Antelopes momentum.

Hopewell (7-8 / 6-5) responded with a much stronger effort in the second set, building a 14-10 advantage behind strong play from Hannah McDowell, who delivered several key kills and a pair of aces. Boyd and Ariana Fischer contributed at the net, while Pisano helped distribute the offense. However, Avonworth battled back to tie the score at 15 before pulling away late for a 25-19 victory.

The third set saw Hopewell continue to battle, with Blosnick leading the offensive charge through several aggressive attacks. Kurta added an ace and a kill, Fischer contributed a block, and Teagen Murray kept Avonworth off balance with well-placed dump shots. Another mid-set scoring run, however, allowed the Antelopes to pull away and complete the sweep with a 25-17 victory.

While the final result wasn’t what Hopewell had hoped for, Senior Night served as a reminder of the dedication and success this group has brought to the program. With just one regular season match remaining Tuesday at Ellwood City, the Vikings will look to fine-tune their game and build momentum for what they hope will be a deep postseason run.

Here is a play-by-play recap:
Set #1
1-0 Hopewell on the board first. Tessa Burgess on the serve.
2-2 Marina Pinchotti and Tessa Burgess with a good read on a long serve
3-3 Avery Boyd places a down ball for a kill
4-5 Avonworth with a wide return
5-8 Hannah McDowell with a good read on a long return
6-8 Cici Smetana with an ace
6-11 Avonworth grabs a lead, timeout Hopewell
6-14 Avonworth continuing to widen the gap
7-14 Addison Blosnick with the kill off the Teagen Murray set
7-18 Hopewell struggling to get their offense started. Timeout Hopewell
8-18 Mikayla Kurta with the kill
9-19 Burgess with an excellent read on a long serve
10-20 Boyd with a nice shot from out wide for a kill
11-22 McDowell with the right side kill off the Pinchotti pass and Ayla Pisano set.
11-24 Avonworth gets to set point on an overpass
11-25 Avonworth finishes off Set #1

Set #2
1-0 Murray on the serve, Hopewell forces the error.
3-4 McDowell with a kill off the Pisano set
4-4 Boyd and Ariana Fischer team up for a block
5-4 McDowell with an ace
6-5 McDowell with a backrow kill off Pisano’s set. Boyd with the pass
7-5 Smetana with a great pass, that Fischer tips over forcing the error. Timeout Lopes.
9-6 Marina Pinchotti on the serve. Smetana with a nice read on a wide return
11-8 Avonworth with a serving error
12-9 Boyd with a block for a point
13-10 Avonworth with a long return
14-10 McDowell with an ace
15-13 Fischer with a nice kill off Pisano’s set. Boyd with a nice pass up
15-15 Avonworth ties it up
15-17 Avonworth grabs a lead. Timeout Hopewell.
16-18 Blosnick places a shot to the middle for a kill
17-19 Murray with a great one-handed dump for a point
18-20 McDowell with a nice down ball forcing the error
19-21 Kurta with a flip to the side causing chaos
19-23 Avonworth grabs a lead. Timeout Hopewell
19-24 Avonworth gets to set point
19-25 Avonworth takes Set #2

Set #3
1-1 McDowell with the kill off a deep pass from Murray
2-3 McDowell hits one through the tip for a kill
3-3 Burgess with a great dig, that lands for a point
4-3 Kurta with an ace
5-5 Tied up after an Avonworth serving error
5-10 Avonworth on a serving run. Timeout Hopewell
6-10 Blosnick with a down ball for a point
7-10 Blosnick drops another shot to the floor
8-11 Blosnick with a cross-court kill this time
9-14 Avonworth with a serving error stopping a short run
10-15 Pinchotti with a great pass to Murray setting Kurta for the kill
11-16 Boyd places a shot to the middle for a kill
11-18 Avonworth extending their lead. Timeout Hopewell
12-18 Fischer with a block
13-18 Fischer drops an overpass
13-21 Avonworth responds with 3 straight points
14-21 Blosnick with a big swing for a kill
15-21 Smetana on the serve, then a good read on a wide return
16-22 Blosnick with another hard shot, forcing the error
17-23 Murray with a tip shot dump for a point
17-24 Avonworth reaches match point
17-25 Avonworth finishes out the set and match.

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – Hopewell’s Junior Varsity Volleyball team (8-6) overcame a second-set deficit Tuesday night to complete a sweep of Beaver Falls, winning 25-12 and 25-22 behind strong serving, solid defense, and finding a way offensively.

The opening set was tightly contested early, with Lillian Otto delivering a pair of kills off sets from Brooke Otto, while Alyssa Phillips and Abby Babinsack contributed at the net. With Hopewell leading 12-11, Sam Holsinger took over from the service line, helping spark a decisive run that included two aces and a pair of kills from Ellie McCoy. The Vikings closed the set on a 14-2 run to take the opener, 25-12.

A strong and improving Beaver Falls defensive squad responded in the second set, building a 14-8 advantage before Hopewell began its comeback. Ava Ray sparked the rally from the service line, recording multiple aces and helping the Vikings erase the deficit to tie the score at 14-14. After the Tigers briefly regained the lead, Babinsack and Phillips delivered key kills before Liliana Katcher put Hopewell in front with an ace.

Katcher continued her strong serving with another ace as the Vikings extended their lead to 21-16. Beaver Falls made one final push with effort and energy, but Babinsack and Otto delivered important points down the stretch to help Hopewell secure the 25-22 victory.

The Vikings received contributions throughout the lineup, with Brooke Otto directing the offense, Lillian Otto and Babinsack providing consistent attacking power. Holsinger, Ray and Katcher delivered key serving runs, while Bella Cipolla also contributed several important defensive plays.

With the regular season winding down, Hopewell will look to build on Tuesday’s performance, particularly its ability to battle through adversity and finish strong. The Vikings return home Thursday to face Avonworth in their final home match of the season, with Junior Varsity action beginning at 6 p.m. ahead of Hopewell’s Senior Night festivities.

Here’s the play-by-play recap:
Set #1
1-1 Alyssa Philips with a free ball that finds the floor
2-2 Lillian Otto with a kill off the Brooke Otto set
3-3 Beaver Falls with an error
4-4 Otto with another kill.  Back and forth so far.
5-6 Sam Holsinger with a good read on a long return
6-6 Bella Cipolla with a great serve, forcing the error

7-6 Phillips and Abby Babinsack with a block at the net
8-9 Philips with a good down-ball for a kill
9-9 Ava Ray with an ace
10-9 Ray with another good serve, Hopewell grabs a lead
11-10 Babinsack drills a kill in the middle
12-11 Babinsack with another kill.  Good pass by Liliana Katcher to Otto for the set.
14-11 Sam Holsinger on the serve, forcing a Tigers error.  Timeout Beaver Falls
15-11 Holsinger with an ace
16-11 Ellie McCoy with a kill that just gets over the net
18-11 Holsinger with another ace
19-11 Otto with a nice hit, Beaver Falls returns it long
20-11 Holsinger still on the serve.  A wide return by Beaver Falls
22-12 McCoy with another kill, using the net for assistance
23-12 Brooke Otto on the serve.  Sophia C pushes one over for a point
24-12 Otto with a kill.  Great defensive rally from Hopewell.
25-12 Hopewell finishes off Set #1 on a 14-2 run.

Set #2
1-0 Bella Cipolla with a great defensive play to one-arm a dig across.
3-2 McCoy with a nice tip shot at the net, forcing the error
5-3 Katcher and Gianna Rossi with a good read on a long return
5-7 Beaver Falls on a run 5-8 Hopewell calls timeout to regroup
6-10 Ray with a nice down-ball to stop the run
7-13 Philips tips one over for a point
8-14 Beaver Falls with an error
9-14 Ray with an ace
10-14 Ray with another nice serve, forcing the error
11-14 Hopewell regaining their form, timeout Beaver Falls
12-14 Ray with another strong serve.  Babinsack places a shot to the middle
14-14 Ray with an ace to tie it up
14-16 Beaver Falls back in front
15-16 Philips with a nice kill.  Ray with a great dig, set by Otto
16-16 Babinsack with a nice adjustment on a swing
17-16 Katcher with an ace.  Timeout Beaver Falls
18-16 Otto with a kill to the middle
20-16 Katcher with an ace
21-16 Otto with a nice hit from off the net.  Cipolla with a great pass.
22-20 Beaver Falls climbing back in it
23-20 Babinsack places one in the middle to stop the run
24-21 Otto with a hard hit.  Beaver Falls with the error
25-22 Hopewell finishes off the match.

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — Hopewell (7-7 / 6-4) turned in a strong all-around performance Tuesday night, sweeping Beaver Falls in straight sets, 25-15, 25-20 and 25-13, behind an aggressive offensive attack and solid defensive play.

The Vikings wasted little time taking control of the opening set. Teagen Murray sparked an early run with three service aces, helping Hopewell build an 8-1 advantage. Hannah McDowell added several aces and a kill from the right side, while Avery Boyd and Ariana Fischer provided plenty of offense at the net. Hopewell extended its lead to 20- 5 in an impressive start to the night. Beaver Falls closed the gap slightly before Hopewell closed out the set, 25-15.

Beaver Falls put up a stronger fight in the second set, battling back to tie the score at 10-10. Hopewell responded behind key kills from Addison Blosnick, Boyd and McDowell, while Tessa Burgess and Murray contributed strong defensive efforts. Cici Smetana added an ace, and Mikayla Kurta delivered a kill through the block. Beaver Falls continued to push though, getting the set back to 21-19, before Hopewell took control late to reach set point. McDowell finished the 25-20 victory with a powerful swing off a Murray set.

The Vikings regained control of the night early in the third set as Kurta delivered back- to-back aces to force a Beaver Falls timeout at 7-2. Fischer continued her strong play at the net, while Blosnick and Boyd kept the offensive pressure on the Tigers. McDowell added several kills and back-to-back aces to reach match point before Blosnick sealed the sweep with a well-placed tip for the 25-13 victory.

Hopewell received contributions throughout its lineup, with Murray directing the offense, McDowell and Boyd providing consistent attacking power, and Fischer, Kurta and Blosnick making their presence felt at the net. Burgess and Marina Pinchotti also contributed defensively.

With the postseason approaching, maintaining offensive balance and defensive consistency will be key for Hopewell as the Vikings prepare to face the top teams in Class 3A. One of those teams comes to town Thursday when Avonworth visits for Hopewell’s Senior Night. Junior Varsity action begins at 6 p.m., with Senior Night festivities taking place immediately following the JV match. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to help cheer on the Junior Varsity and then recognize these Vikings’ seniors!

Here’s a play-by-play recap from tonight:

Set #1
1-0 Hopewell on the board. Burgess with the serve, wide return from Beaver Falls
2-1 Mikayla Kurta with a nice kill off the Teagen Murray set
3-1 Murray with an ace

4-1 Murray with another serve, error by Beaver Falls
5-1 Murray sets up Boyd for a huge swing
6-1 Murray with another ace. Early timeout Beaver Falls
7-1 Murray with an ace out of the timeout
8-1 Marina Pinchotti with a nice defensive play, forcing the error
9-3 A wide return from Beaver Falls
10-5 Hannah McDowell with a kill from the right side
12-5 McDowell with back-to-back aces
13-5 Boyd with another big swing off the Murray set
14-5 Fischer with a great block for a point
15-5 Fischer with a quick kill to the middle. Great middle-set from Murray
16-5 McDowell with another ace
17-5 Fischer lines up another kill to the middle
18-5 Boyd with a nice read on a wide tip shot from Beaver Falls
19-5 McDowell with another strong serve. Boyd waiting to drop the overpass.
20-5 The best rally of the night. Great defense from Pinchotti & Murray
22-8 Fischer with a nice play at the net, ending a Beaver Falls run
23-11 Fischer with a kill off the Ayla Pisano set
24-11 Pinchotti on the serve, forcing a Beaver Falls error
24-14 Beaver Falls taking advantage of some Hopewell errors
25-15 Beaver Falls with a serving error to end Set #1

Set #2
1-1 Hopewell on the board off a serving error
2-1 Boyd with another big kill from the right side
3-1 Murray on the serve, forcing an error
4-1 McDowell hits one fading away
5-1 Murray sets Kurta for a quick kill to the middle
6-3 McDowell with a big swing, and is ready for the overpass coming back
7-4 McDowell with a nice dig, that Murray sets to Boyd for a kill
8-4 McDowell with an ace
8-7 Beaver Falls
9-7 Pinchotti with a backset to Addison Blosnick for a tip shot over
10-8 Fischer with a block
10-10 Tied up in Set #2
11-10 Blosnick with a big swing to the backline
12-10 Tessa Burgess on the serve. Beaver Falls error
13-10 A wide return from the Tigers
14-12 Beaver Falls with a serving error
15-12 Burgess and Murray with a great defensive effort
16-12 Murray with a great serve, forcing an error
17-13 Boyd places a down-ball right to the middle
18-14 McDowell with a great finesse shot to the middle
19-15 Blosnick with another down-ball for a point. Timeout Tigers
20-15 Cici Smetana with an ace
21-15 Blosnick drills one down the line for a kill
21-18 Beaver Falls capitalizing on more Hopewell errors
22-19 Murray with a backwards dump for a point
23-20 Beaver Falls with an error
24-20 Kurta hits one through the block to get to Set point
25-20 McDowell ends Set 2 soundly with a big kill off the Murray set.

Set #3
1-1 McDowell gets Hopewell started with a kill to the backline
2-1 Beaver Falls with a long return
3-2 Kurta powers one through the block for a kill
4-2 Boyd ready for the overpass
5-2 Boyd with a kill off Murray’s set
7-2 Kurta with back-to-back aces. Timeout Beaver Falls
8-2 Kurta with another good serve, returned long
9-4 McDowell finds the floor on a kill to the backrow
11-5 Fischer with a great block at the net
12-5 Blosnick pulls back on another big swing through the block
13-5 Smetana with an ace
14-6 Blosnick with another kill
15-6 Pinchotti on the serve, Beaver Falls with an error
16-6 Hopewell taking control in Set #3
17-8 Beaver Falls with a wide return
17-10 Beaver Falls hanging around.
18-10 Kurta with a kill. Nice pass from Burgess and set from Murray
19-10 Boyd with a nice dig and Kurta with a heads-up flip over the net
20-10 McDowell kills one through the block
21-11 McDowell with another kill
22-12 Pinchotti with a nice pass up. Murray sets Fischer for a kill
24-12 McDowell with back-to-back aces. Match point Hopewell
25-13 Blosnick tips one to the middle to finish out the match.

Hopewell Twp – Hopewell’s Junior Varsity Volleyball Team (7-6) stepped outside its usual competition level for a non-section matchup against Class 5A Montour, giving the young Vikings an opportunity to test themselves against a larger program. While Montour came away with a straight-set victory, 25-17 and 25-21, Hopewell had its moments, showing the ability to compete while gaining valuable experience.

The Vikings opened the first set strong, with Liliana Katcher delivering an early ace, and Lillian Otto adding a kill off a Brooke Otto set. Ellie McCoy and Alyssa Phillips contributed key attacks, while strong serving from Lillian Otto and Bella Cipolla helped Hopewell turn an early deficit into an 11-9 advantage. Abby Babinsack added a pair of kills, but Montour’s strong defense eventually took control, pulling away for a 25-17 victory.

Hopewell again battled in the second set, with Babinsack, Lillian Otto and McCoy providing early offense. After Montour built a 16-9 lead, the Vikings mounted a comeback behind consecutive kills from Lillian Otto, a Babinsack block and strong serving from Katcher, cutting the deficit to 16-15.

Montour responded with another run, but Hopewell continued fighting. McCoy contributed key plays at the net, while Cipolla helped the Vikings fight off multiple match points before the Spartans closed out the 25-21 victory.

While the final result favored Montour, the experience provided another valuable opportunity for Hopewell’s young roster. Playing up against stronger competition isn’t always about wins and losses. It’s about developing confidence, improving execution and building a program capable of competing at a higher level.

Hopewell’s JV squad now finishes the season with 3 straight section matchups vs Beaver Falls, Avonworth & Ellwood City, hoping to finish the season strong.

Here’s a play-by-play recap of the match:

Set #1
1-0 Hopewell on the board first on a long return from Montour
2-0 Liliana Katcher with an ace
3-5 Katcher with a good read on a long serve to stop a run
4-6 Lillian Otto with the kill off a great set from Brooke Otto
5-8 Ellie McCoy with a nice tip to the middle
6-8 Lillian Otto with a great serve, forcing the Montour error
7-8 Otto with an ace
8-9 McCoy places a kill in the back corner
9-9 Alyssa Philips with a strong kill to the corner
10-9 Bella Cipolla with an ace
11-9 Cipolla with another serve forcing the error. Timeout Montour
12-12 Philips with a great down ball for a point
14-12 Babinsack with a kill to the backrow
14-14 A great rally ending with a Montour point
14-17 Montour on a run, Timeout Hopewell
15-18 Babinsack with a much-needed kill. Great pass from Sam Holsinger.
15-21 Montour playing excellent defense on Hopewell’s hitters
16-21 Lillian Otto with a kill
17-22 Montour with a serve error
17-24 Montour gets to set point
17-25 Montour wins Set #1

Set #2
1-0 Ray on the serve. Babinsack with the kill off Brooke Otto’s set
2-1 Cipolla with a good read on a long serve
3-2 Otto with a kill on the line
4-2 Babinsack with a great serve forcing the error
5-4 Otto hits one through the block. A great play at the net earlier by McCoy
6-6 McCoy with a block that Montour returns out
7-6 Lillian Otto with a serve forcing the error
8-7 Philips with a great free ball to the middle for a point
9-10 Babinsack with a nice kill. Nice pass up by Katcher
9-14 Montour on another run forcing a Hopewell timeout
10-16 Katcher freeballs one over forcing an error
11-16 Otto with a kill
12-16 Otto with another kill, this time on the run
13-16 Babinsack with a great block
14-16 Montour with an error. Timeout Spartans
15-16 Katcher with a great serve forcing the error
16-17 Montour with a wide return
17-21 McCoy with a tip to middle to keep Hopewell alive
18-21 Brooke Otto on the serve. Lillian Otto with a kill
18-23 Montour taking control late
19-23 McCoy blocks one forcing an error
19-24 Montour gets to match point
20-24 Hopewell with a point to stay in it
21-24 Cipolla on the serve. Hopewell survives one
21-25 Montour buries a kill to win the set & match