Just call it a three-peat ... well, sort of.

The Upper St. Clair High School girls' volleyball team is closing in on a third consecutive WPIAL Class AAA playoff berth.

After edging Trinity, 3-2, Tuesday, the Panthers maintained a perfect 8-0 record in Section 2-AAA. A victory against Connellsville tonight will clinch a WPIAL playoff berth.

"Our goal every year is to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs and win a section title," said Upper St. Clair coach Yoko Nagao, in her fourth season. "I'm very please with the way we've played in the section."

Upper St. Clair is ranked No. 3 in WPIAL Class AAA and No. 8 in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association poll.

"We have six of our top nine players back from last year," Nagao said. "Two are three-year starters."

The two Nagao is referring to are 5-foot-8 senior setter Susan McLean and 5-7 junior libero Rachel Jones.

"It's nice to have so much experience back at the setter position," said Nagao, referring to McLean. "Susan was a first-team section all-star last year."

The other four returning monogram-winners are 6-0 senior middle hitter Casey Perryman, 5-8 senior outside hitter Madison Stromberg, 5-5 senior defensive specialist Lauren Williams and 5-11 sophomore middle hitter Kelsey Michenko.

"Casey and Madison were starters last year," Nagao said. "Casey was a section all-star. Madison was in the shadow of Nina Camacho last year. Now she's our main outside hitter. Kelsey was a part-time starter last year."

The other three players in Upper St. Clair's starting rotation are 5-10 senior right-side hitter Rachel Brodland, 5-8 sophomore outside hitter Maggie Slowey and 5-2 sophomore defensive specialist Alyssa Ardolino.

"All three are playing at the varsity level for the first time," Nagao said. "All three are doing a nice job for us."

Upper St. Clair has a total of 15 players on its varsity squad.

"Casey is our go-to hitter," Nagao said. "She is also a very strong blocker. She has a high reach on her hits and works well with our setter. She can dominate at the net against shorter teams."

"Madison has been our second most productive hitter. She is a good passer and hitter, but sometimes tries to do too much."

Perryman and McLean are co-captains.

Upper St. Clair has played in three tournaments. The Panthers tied for third in the Mt. Lebanon tournament after losing to North Allegheny in the semifinals. The Panthers won the Upper St. Clair tournament title, beating Baldwin, 2-0, in the title match. Upper St. Clair also tied for third place at the South Fayette tournament, losing, 1-0, to West Allegheny in the semifinals.

"We have good senior leadership, but are also still a relatively young team," Nagao said.

Upper St. Clair got a chance to face the top team in the state on Monday. The Panthers faced Mt. Lebanon in a non-conference match and dropped a 3-0 decision.

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