Will the Bobcats have an “ace” of a season?

That is the question on most of the Beaver Area volleyball players’ minds.

Will the Bobcats win the sectional title? And how far of a reach are the WPIAL championships for the underdog team?

Beaver Area is the favorite for the section title, and despite having a rocky season last year the team has shifted into being a powerful force in the WPIAL.

Senior Gianna Massimino explained that “We have big games coming up, but we are going strong. So far we’ve had a great start to the season, and we hope to keep up the high energy for the rest of the season.”

Last season the starting varsity roster consisted of six freshmen who all had raw talent but lacked high school experience.

All of those freshmen are now sophomores who played club seasons throughout the spring and prepared for a new season with big expectations.

The Bobcats traveled to the Canon McMillan tournament August 26 and finished third. The first and second-place teams were 5A or higher, so the Bobcats were extremely satisfied with their overall performance.

Starters for this year include senior Chloe List, juniors Zoe Ringer and Sophia Sharpless, and sophomores Kailyn Connelly, Anna Vinopal, Jaedyn Brown, and Aubrey Bumblis.

Despite Beaver Area being the section favorite, it was predicted that Freeport or Quaker Valley would be the 2023 WPIAL 4A champions.

But predictions are still only predictions—and the WPIAL favorites, the Quaker Valley Quakers, fell to the Bobcats August 29.

The Cats had a three-set sweep against the Quakers with final scores of 25-19, 25-12, and 26-24.

Shortly after their big win against the Quakers, the Bobcats also swept the Blackhawk Cougars August 31.

To continue their dominating season the Bobcats swept both Mohawk September 5 and Shenango September 7.

At Mohawk List led the match with 19 kills and 9 digs, Connelly had a season-high 12 kills, Vinopal, Brown, and sophomore Lanie Malobabich each had 5 kills. Bumblis led with 22 digs and 4 aces, and Ringer had 44 assists.

At home against Shenango, the Bobcats averaged roughly the same statistics among the starting players as every game before with List and Connelly having 12 kills, Malobabich with 4 kills, and Ringer having 33 assists. For the defense, Vinopal had 5 digs and 3 aces, and Bumblis tallied 10 digs and 4 aces.

The Bobcats continued with their blazing hot season with yet another sweep September 12. This time against the Riverside Panthers.

After their win against the Panthers, the Bobcats sit at 5-0.

The Cats faced the Beaver Falls Tigers September 14 and will have a big game against Neshannock September 19.

Malobabich stated, “We are doing great! We are 5-0 right now, but Neshannock is going to be a big game. It’s also our youth night.”

Check the next issue of the BASD ECHO for coverage of that game and the rest of the season!