It's eight and counting for the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart girls' volleyball team.

The Chargers have earned an eighth consecutive berth in the WPIAL Class A playoffs, which will begin next week.

"My overall goal when I began coaching at OLSH was to build a winning tradition," said coach Mike McDonald, who has been at the helm for 20 years. "Eight consecutive playoff berths is certainly a step in the right direction."

OLSH entered the final night of the regular season with a 9-2 record in Section 4-A, which guarantees the eighth consecutive playoff berth. Avonworth leads the section with a 10-1 record, with its only loss coming to OLSH.

"We split with Avonworth, which accounts for their only loss," said McDonald. "We also split with South Side Beaver, losing the second time 3-2. South Side is in third place with three losses [going into Tuesday's match against Avonworth]."

OLSH played Quigley on Tuesday and will close its section schedule today at Cornell.

"We have a very young team," said McDonald. "We lost four starters and a total of six players to graduation."

McDonald has built the team around three returning lettermen: 5-foot-10 senior right-side hitter Micki Cerchiaro, 5-7 junior middle hitter Devin McGrath and 5-4 senior outside hitter Kathryn Joyce.

"Micki was a first-team WPIAL selection last year, and was named to the [Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class A] finest fifty," McDonald said. "Devin was a second-team WPIAL selection. Kathryn wasn't a starter last year, but did see considerable playing time, especially at the end of the season."

McDonald relies on those three for leadership.

"We have to get the ball to those three," said McDonald. "We need all three to play well for us to go far in the playoffs."

McDonald is using a 5-1 (one-setter) offense, but has used two different setters -- Antoinette Luchini and Danielle Auth. Luchini is a 5-5 sophomore and Auth is a 5-2 freshman.

"Antoinette has seen most of the playing time, but I also like to use Danielle for a change of pace," said McDonald. "Both are making their varsity debut and have handled that pressure very well."

McDonald has used a 10-player rotation. The other five are: 5-8 junior middle hitter Lindsay Feth, 5-4 sophomore outside hitter Catherine Roseto, 5-3 senior defensive specialist Jackie Don, 5-5 senior right-side hitter Lindsay Catanzarite and 5-7 senior middle hitter Jasmine Davison.

"Seedings and brackets will be drawn Monday," said McDonald, a member of the WPIAL Volleyball Steering Committee. "The opening rounds will be scheduled for midweek."

Seton-LaSalle, last year's WPIAL runner-up, is considered the team to beat. Elderton, Greensburg Central Catholic, Bentworth and two-time defending champion Geibel round out the top five in the WPIAL Class A rankings. OLSH is tied for No. 10 with South Side Beaver.

"Seton-LaSalle deserves its top ranking," said McDonald. "[Coach] Ray Bobak could have the best team in the state."

Hopewell will most likely be the top seed in Class AA. The Vikings won four consecutive WPIAL titles from 2002-2005, but failed to finish among the top four last year.

Either Seneca Valley or Mt. Lebanon will be the top seed in Class AAA.