Tonight marks the beginning of a six-day stretch that could make or break the Norwin High School boys' volleyball team.

It begins with a showdown of the top two teams in the WPIAL Coaches Association rankings, as the No. 2 Knights play host to top-ranked Ambridge in a non-section match.

"Ambridge moved up to No. 1 in the [Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association] state rankings after winning the Central York tournament on Saturday," said Norwin coach Al Warden, referring to the Koller Classic, which is traditionally the strongest tournament in the state. "It may be a non-section match, but it's very important for both teams."

Even more important is Tuesday's Section 5 showdown with Hempfield. Norwin concluded the first half of section play with a 4-1 record, its only loss coming in a five-game marathon with Hempfield in the section opener. The Spartans lead the section with a 5-0 record, but are ranked below Norwin at No. 7 due to tournament play.

"With the section title on the line, I'm glad this one is at home," said Warden. "Hempfield gets a nice following, so I'm sure we'll have a big crowd on hand. We're playing much better than we were the first time we played, but it wouldn't surprise me if we had another five-game match."

Sandwiched between those two matches is Saturday's Plum Invitational, a 15-team tournament that features all 10 teams in the WPIAL rankings.

"It's the best tournament on this side of the state," said Warden, who led the Knights to a second-place finish in both the WPIAL and PIAA last season. "It could be a prelude to the WPIAL tournament."

Norwin has advanced to the finals in its first two tournament appearances. The Knights lost to Hempfield in the title match of the Norwin Invitational, then dropped a decision against State College in the championship match of the Hempfield Invitational.

"The only game we lost all day at the Hempfield tournament was the one-game final to State College," said Warden, whose Knights are No. 5 in the PVCA rankings.

Warden said the WPIAL has more parity this year.

"The past five years, we've been able to figure out who the top two teams are by midway through the season," said Warden. "This year, Ambridge has stepped to the front, while everybody else is beating up on each other. It will come down to where teams are seeded and who is playing the best at playoff time."

Warden lost nine seniors to graduation from last year's PIAA runners-up, including four who were on the court all the time.

"We certainly had some big shoes to fill, but our seniors have provided the leadership we needed to build another winner," said Warden.

Warden's big guns are seniors Brad Bouldin and Mike Ferragonio, who were both voted to the PVCA All-State Finest 50 last season. Bouldin is a 6-foot-5 middle hitter and Ferragonio is a 6-3 outside hitter.

Other seniors in Norwin's starting rotation are 6-5 right-side hitter Dan Sprumont, 5-11 defensive specialist Mike Pochan and 6-1 outside hitter Jesse Josephic.

"Jesse has been our biggest surprise," said Warden. "He saw only limited playing time last year, but has done well now that he's getting a chance to play."

Tyler Warden, a 5-11 junior and the coach's son, has inherited the setting position held by Ryan Obeldobel, a four-year starter who has moved on to Juniata College.

"Tyler has some big shoes to fill, but he's done a fine job," said Warden. "Tyler lettered last year, but saw limited playing time. He's been around the game for quite a while, so he knows what to expect."

Also in Norwin's nine-player rotation are 6-4 junior middle hitter Garrett McNamara, 6-3 sophomore outside hitter Matt Ferragonio and 5-10 sophomore libero Mike Schmidt.