The North Allegheny High School boys' volleyball team has a chance to accomplish something only two other WPIAL teams have done in the 68-year history of the sport.

The Tigers have a chance to become only the third school to capture four straight titles when the tournament begins next week.

"There's no more pressure than any other year," said North Allegheny coach Dan Schall, who is believed to be the only coach in WPIAL history to win titles in his first three years as a head coach. "Pressure isn't a bad thing. It makes kids play above the level they are capable of playing. And they kind of like that feeling."

Penn Hills and Homestead are the two most successful high schools in WPIAL history, but North Allegheny isn't far behind.

Penn Hills owns WPIAL records with 13 overall titles and eight in a row from 1970-77. The Indians are expected to be a participant in this year's WPIAL tournament, but haven't won a title since 1990.

The now defunct Homestead High School captured 12 WPIAL titles from 1944 until 1963. Homestead won five consecutive titles from 1944 until 1948, then won three in a row from 1961-63.

North Allegheny has won nine WPIAL titles, including two three-year streaks. The Tigers won three straight titles from 1993-95 under legandary coach Bob Miller. Schall's Tigers matched the feat last year.

"It's a pretty open horse race this year," said Schall. "There are a few teams that have separated themselves from the pack, due to their overall consistency and performance in tournaments, but there have to be 10-12 teams capable of making it to the WPIAL final four. It's going to come down to which team is playing the best over that two-week stretch of the playoffs."

North Allegheny (9-1) concluded its Section 2 schedule in a dead heat with Seneca Valley.

"I'm not sure, but I've been told that it's been approximately 10 years since North Allegheny lost a section match," said Schall, referring to the Tigers' 3-0 loss to Seneca Valley on May 2.

"Seneca Valley has a solid team with some good young players."

North Allegheny's roster is dominated by seniors, but only one saw significant playing time last year.

"We enter the playoff from a different vantage point this year," said Schall. "The last couple years, we were one of the favorites. This year, we're one of many good teams that has a chance to win."

The only player with significant previous varsity playing time is Russ Hoburg, a 6-4 senior outside hitter.

"Russ played outside hitter last year, but has played all three front-line positions this year," said Schall. "Depending on the match-up, we sometimes move him to the middle or the right side. He's pretty versatile. It's not easy to juggle all three positions, but he's handled it very well."

Hoburg has been joined on the front line by Brett Alexander, a 6-2 senior outside hitter.

"Russ and Brett have been our leading hitters," said Schall. "Both have approximately 180 kills. Brett saw some varsity action last year, but very little. He's really emerged from his junior year to his senior year."

Schall is using a modified 6-2 offense, which is run by setters Mike Zunic and Matt Snyder. Zunic is a 6-0 senior, while Snyder is a 5-9 junior. "Mike was our back-up varsity setter last year, while Matt was our JV setter."

Other seniors in the Tigers starting rotation are 6-4 right side hitter Brian Block, 6-4 middle hitter Kevin Vater, 5-9 defensive specialist Derek Brady, 6-2 outside hitter Naveed Bozorg, and 6-2 backrow specialist Tony Cerilli.

Underclassmen who have seen significant playing time are 6-3 junior middle hitter John Nolan, 5-2 sophomore outside hitter J.J. Leroux, and 5-5 sophomore defensive specialist John Wappler.