It's easy to see why Penn Hills and Ambridge are being touted as the best boys' volleyball teams in the WPIAL this season.

Both are ranked No. 1 in the state in the first poll released by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association.

"Penn Hills and Ambridge are clearly the teams to beat," Fox Chapel coach Phil O'Keeffe said. "Both teams have almost everybody back from last year."

Ambridge is the defending WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up in Class AA.

"I have as much skill as I've ever had," Ambridge coach Dennis Damp said. "We have nine kids back from last year's squad and we utilize all of them. The only difference is that we had more depth last year. We had 13 kids, all of whom saw significant playing time."

Penn Hills placed third in the WPIAL and tied for fifth in the PIAA last season.

"We are a senior-dominated team with a lot of experience," Penn Hills coach Dan Brown said. "We have six of our top eight players back from last year, including four seniors who have started at least two years. If we can stay healthy, we can be a very competitive team."

Penn Hills has three players who were voted to WPIAL All-Stars last year. Outside hitter Micah Larson was voted to the first team, while setter Rob Strauss and right-side hitter Kevin Sparks were recognized on the second team.

"Micah is a four-year starter," Brown said. "Rob and Kevin have started since their sophomore year. Middle hitter Dalton Cesaratto is also starting for the third year. [Cesarrato] should have been a WPIAL All-Star last year."

Ambridge had five players voted to WPIAL Class AA All-Stars last year, and three are back. Nick Goodell, a junior outside hitter, was voted to the first team, while senior setter Evan Fullerton and senior right-side hitter Luke Ecimovic were second-team selections.

"Nick is as strong a player as I have ever coached," Damp said. "Luke has accepted a football scholarship to play at Indiana State University. Evan has been our setter since his sophomore year."

Penn Hills ranks first in WPIAL history with 13 titles, but has not won one since 1990. The now defunct Homestead High School is second with 12 titles.

North Allegheny ranks third with 11 titles, including five in the past six years.

"Penn Hills has a strong team, but you can never count out North Allegheny," O'Keeffe said.

Penn Hills opened the season with titles in tournaments at North Allegheny and Derry. The Indians defeated North Allegheny in the title match in both tournaments.

"North Allegheny doesn't have the big guns it had last year, but it does have good height and always seems to keep coming at you with talented players," O'Keeffe said. "[North Allegheny] is clearly the team to beat in Section 2."

North Allegheny is led by senior middle hitter Matt Miller, senior right-side hitter Adam Miller, and junior setter Michael Krepp. Matt Miller and Krepp were voted to the third-team WPIAL Class AAA All-Stars last season.

North Allegheny defeated Bethel Park in the WPIAL finals last season. The Black Hawks will be hard pressed to repeat that fine performance, considering nine players from that squad have graduated. And they will also be missing their coach.

"An automobile accident forced me to take a medical sabbatical the rest of the school year," said Tom Allman, who has coached at Bethel Park the past 18 years. "With that in mind, I've turned the program over to Brian Blanc, who was my assistant a few years ago. My hope is to return next season, but I'll just have to wait and see."

North Allegheny is No. 3 in the PVCA state rankings, while Seneca Valley is close behind at No. 4. The only other WPIAL school in the Class AA rankings is No. 4 Deer Lakes. The Lancers are led by senior middle hitters Darin Van Horn and Zak Roberts, who were both voted first-team WPIAL All-Stars.

"We faced Deer Lakes in the WPIAL semifinals last year," Damp said. "They have two of the best middle hitters in the state with Van Horn and Roberts."

Class AAA will field 21 teams this year, as three quality programs have moved up in classification, Greater Latrobe, Pine-Richland and Peters Township.

Latrobe, last year's WPIAL Class AA runner-up, has moved up to Section 3-AAA. Pine-Richland, a Class AA qualifier in Section 2 last season, has moved up to Section 2-AAA. Peters Township has moved from Section 1-AA to 1-AAA.

"The addition of Latrobe makes Section 3 the strongest of the Class AAA sections," Brown said. "Latrobe was a WPIAL runner-up last year and most of that team is back."

Latrobe has four players who were voted WPIAL Class AA All-Stars last year. Junior right-side hitter Colin Sherwin was a first-team selection. senior middle hitter Matt Blank and senior setter Mike DeDiana were voted to the second team, and senior outside hitter Adam Peffer was a third-team choice.

Class AA will again have 19 teams, as three schools have added a boys' volleyball program, Beaver County Christian, Wilkinsburg and Trinity. Woodland Hills discontinued its program due a drop in participation leaving 40 tema in the WPIAL.