The Fox Chapel Area High School boys' volleyball team has made five consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances under coach Phil O'Keeffe.

The 2009 Foxes are on track to continue the streak.

"This is my seventh year as head coach and we've been to the playoffs all but the first year," O'Keeffe said. "This year's squad is certainly capable of keeping the streak alive."

Fox Chapel enters tonight's Section 2-AAA match against Seneca Valley with a 3-2 record.

"We opened the season with a 3-1 loss to Seneca Valley," O'Keeffe said. "Our other loss was to [defending WPIAL champ] North Allegheny. We're looking forward to the rematch with Seneca Valley."

Penn Hills is No. 1 in the WPIAL Coaches Association rankings and No. 1 in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association state rankings, while North Allegheny is No. 2 in both polls.

"Penn Hills and North Allegheny are clearly the top two teams in the WPIAL, and could be the top two in the state," O'Keeffe said. "Seneca Valley is No. 5 in the state and Fox Chapel is No. 9. That's three teams from Section 2-AAA ranked among the top nine [in the state]. I think it's safe to say that we have the strongest of the three [WPIAL] sections in Class AAA."

North Allegheny finished the first half of section play with a 6-0 record, while Seneca Valley posted a 5-1 mark. Fox Chapel and Butler are tied for third place with 3-2 marks. The top four teams qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

"Our first-half match with Butler was moved to next week," O'Keeffe said. "That gives us matches four nights in a row. We play at North Hills Tuesday, then at home the next two nights against Butler and Shaler, and finish the week with a [non-section] match on the road against Ambridge, the top-ranked team in Class AA. It could be the biggest week of the season for us."

Fox Chapel could clinch a WPIAL playoff berth with wins in next week's three section matches.

"We lost six players [who graduated] from last year's team, including five starters," O'Keeffe said. "We've built this squad around our four returning lettermen."

Seniors Mike Rios and Eric Redfern return at middle hitter.

The other two returning starters are 6-foot-7 junior outside hitter Daniel Tumblin and 5-10 sophomore setter Sam Dickens.

O'Keeffe uses a 10-player rotation that includes 5-10 senior libero Max Meinert, 6-1 senior outside hitter Patrick Ross, 5-8 junior libero Eli Roth, 5-5 junior libero Timmy Goodwin, 6-5 senior right-side hitter Eric Bukovac, and 6-2 junior right-side hitter Ronnie Seman.

Fox Chapel has played in two tournaments. The Foxes opened the season at the North Allegheny tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals, losing to Seneca Valley. A week later, the Foxes won their own 12-team tournament.

"Winning our tournament showed the kids what they can do when they play well," O'Keeffe said.