Fox Chapel girls' volleyball coach Kris Scigliano realizes that injuries are part of the game.

The Foxes, however, have had more than their share of injuries this season.

"This is the most injuries I've had coaching the girls," said Scigliano, now in his seventh season. "We've had at least two players out of the lineup since the season started. It's a little frustrating. It takes a lot of imagination to figure out what to do."

Seniors Jessica Covelli and Natalie Love, a pair of returning starters, began the season on the disabled list. Covelli is a 5-foot-10 setter, while Love is a 5-7 outside hitter.

"Jessica and Natalie were just cleared to play," Scigliano said. "Jessica missed most of last season with a knee injury, then suffered a shoulder injury that has kept her out of the lineup this year.

"Natalie suffered a knee injury over the summer and she's been slow to come back. Jessica would have been our setter this year. Natalie has the most varsity experience. She has started since her sophomore year."

Scigliano also lost his best middle hitter to an ankle sprain.

"Cara Reese sprained her ankle two weeks ago," said Scigliano, referring to a 5-11 sophomore who is making her varsity debut. "Having so many injuries has made my job a real challenge during the first month of the season. It's also giving some younger kids a chance to gain some varsity experience they wouldn't have received if we were healthy."

Scigliano has led Fox Chapel to six consecutive WPIAL Class AAA playoff berths. The Foxes finished in a three-way tie with Plum and Shaler Area for the Section 4-AAA title last season, then suffered a tough 3-2 loss to Connellsville in the first round of the playoffs.

"The section is much stronger than it's been in the past," Scigliano said. "There's not just two or three good teams. This year, we have four teams that are good enough to be in the playoffs, and only three can qualify."

Shaler is the only unbeaten team in the section. The Titans enter tonight's action with an 8-0 record, while Penn Hills is second with a 6-1 mark. Fox Chapel is third at 5-3, while Plum is a close fourth at 4-3.

The problem is that Fox Chapel lost to Shaler, Penn Hills, and Plum in the first half of section play. In all probability, the Foxes must beat at least one of the three in the second half to keep its playoff hopes alive.

"It starts with [tonight's] match against Penn Hills," Scigliano said. "We took them to five games the first time we played and the fifth game was 18-16. It's also our senior night."

Fox Chapel travels to Gateway (3-5) next Tuesday. The Foxes conclude their section schedule with a home match against Shaler on Oct. 14 and a road match at Plum on Oct. 16.

"Injuries have played a big part in our fate thus far," Scigliano said. "If we can get healthy, we could open some eyes in the last few weeks of the season."

Covelli and Love are two of six Fox Chapel players who lettered last year. The others are 5-6 junior setter Sara D'Amico, 5-6 senior back-row specialist Emily Feenstra, 5-9 senior outside hitter Jennifer Leya and 5-5 senior back-row specialist Aly Toole.

"I anticipated that Jessica [Covelli] would be our setter this year," Scigliano said. "Sara has stepped into that role and done a great job."

The injury situation, and the loss of five players to graduation, has forced Scigliano to use six newcomers, 5-8 sophomore outside hitter Kacie Planavsky, 5-11 junior middle hitter Rachel Michel, 5-10 sophomore Kay Bollinger, 5-5 junior right side hitter Ashley Hauser, 5-5 senior libero Alexis Taylor and 5-11 junior middle hitter Ally Metz.

"Kacie has become our best outside hitter," Scigliano said. "She's become our go-to girl in the front row and is our best server. She's done a lot of work with the Junior Olympic program. She's been a big surprise for us.

"Rachel and Kay have stepped in and done a fine job while Cara has been injured. Our younger players are getting an education. They have to learn on the court in pressure situations."

Fox Chapel has been to three tournaments. The Foxes lost to Seton-LaSalle in the finals of the North Catholic tournament. At the Upper St. Clair tournament, they advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Hopewell. And at the Shaler Tournament, the Foxes made it to the silver bracket playoffs before losing to Plum in the semifinals.