CRAIG BUNNEY

SCHOOL: Ambridge.

WHO IS HE? One of the top goal scorers in WPIAL boys' soccer and a kicker/punter/return man for the football team.

THE PAST WEEK: A 5-foot-11, 160-pound junior, Bunney scored two goals Tuesday to lead the Bridgers past Blackhawk, 3-1. He also kicked a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter Friday that proved to be decisive in a 10-7 football victory at Montour.

SEASON: Bunney, a forward, has registered 20 goals to lead Ambridge (14-0-1, 10-0-1) to first place in Section 4-AA and the No. 1 spot in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class AA rankings.

He also has two field goals for the football team (2-4, 2-2), which is seeking a playoff berth in the Class AAA Parkway Conference.

CAREER: This is Bunney's third varsity soccer season, second as a starter. He was the Bridgers' top goal scorer a year ago as well, with 23. Bunney also made 10 field goals in 2004, tops among WPIAL and City League kickers. That included four in a playoff victory against Pine-Richland.

COMPLETE ATHLETE: Physical ability is one reason Bunney is a soccer standout. But it's not the only factor.

"He has greatly improved his skills," said Ambridge coach Sean Cummings. "I also think his speed and strength are second to no one I've seen in [WPIAL Class] AA. He's just hard to knock off the ball."

RETURNS, TOO: Extremely rare is the punter and/or kicker who is a capable return man as well. Bunney, however, has become just that. For the first time, he was back on kickoffs and punts against Montour.

"It's his decision," said Bridgers football coach Don Yannessa. "He mentioned to one of the assistants at practice last week that he wanted to try it. I turned around suddenly and saw he was returning kicks. He does have the ability to carry the ball. Craig may be our fastest player."

Bunney said: "It's kind of different. Now I see what it's like on the other end."

FUTURE: Bunney would like to play football and soccer in college, but realizes that isn't feasible. "I can't do it," he acknowledged.

Cummings expects him to go with football. "He could definitely play soccer at the next level," Cummings said. "But he'll have more scholarship opportunities with football. I can see him being a Division I kicker."

-- By Rick Shrum

BECKY NOVACEK

SCHOOL: Hopewell

WHO IS SHE? A 6-foot-1 junior, one of the top girls' volleyball players in the WPIAL and a standout three-sport athlete.

SEASON: Novacek is an outstanding middle hitter for a Hopewell team that is ranked No. 1 in WPIAL Class AA. Last week, she helped the Vikings to a victory against North Allegheny, the No. 4-ranked Class AAA team. Earlier this season, Novacek was named to the all-tournament team at the MAC tournament and was MVP of the Blackhawk tournament.

DIVISION I FUTURE: Penn State, Kentucky and Nebraska are major-college volleyball programs already showing interest in Novacek.

GOING FOR FOUR: Hopewell has won three WPIAL Class AA volleyball championships in a row, but the Vikings lost a number of key players from last year's team to graduation.

"I don't think we're as good as last year, but I think if everyone plays their best, we can win the WPIAL again," Novacek said. "We still have a lot of talent. If we're playing well, then we can pretty much beat anyone. But we all have to be playing together and playing our best to do that."

THE OTHER SPORTS: It wouldn't be an overstatement to call Novacek one of the best all-around athletes in Western Pennsylvania. She won the WPIAL Class AAA high jump championship as a freshman and finished second last year. She also was the leading scorer on Hopewell's girls' basketball team last season, averaging 14 points. Despite her success in other sports, Novacek has realized volleyball is her future sport.

On top of her athletic achievements, Novacek also is fifth academically in Hopewell's junior class with a 3.87 grade point average.

FAMILY OF ATHLETES: Novacek isn't the only successful athlete in her family. Her uncle is former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek. Her father, Jim, was an excellent pole vaulter at a Nebraska high school. Becky also has a fraternal twin sister, Joyce, who is a talented basketball player and hurdler in track.

There are more Novacek girls on the way up at Hopewell. Grace is a 6-1 freshman on the volleyball team who sees some playing time on the varsity. Another sister, Janice, is a sixth-grader who enjoys tennis and running.

-- By Mike White