Mt. Lebanon High School girls' volleyball coach Dawn Begor used a different approach while compiling this year's varsity schedule.

"We only scheduled one tournament," Begor said. "The other tournaments I had penciled in -- we had a scheduling conflict with some things going on at the school. So I decided to schedule a bunch of non-section matches against very strong opponents."

Begor wasn't kidding. Mt. Lebanon already has victories against five teams ranked among the top 10 in the WPIAL in Class AAA -- No. 2 North Allegheny, No. 3 Pine-Richland, No. 4 Upper St. Clair, No. 6 Seneca Valley and No. 10 Shaler Area.

"Coach Begor and her girls deserve to be ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL and the state," North Allegheny coach Dan Schall said. "Mt. Lebanon is clearly the team to beat."

The only tournament Mt. Lebanon entered was its own. The Blue Devils conducted an eight-team tournament Labor Day weekend and were beaten in the title game by North Allegheny.

"I actually hate tournaments with a passion," Begor said. "The girls have either a match or practice every day during the week, then have to get up real early on Saturday morning and play in a tournament all day long. That schedule can burn the girls out. I prefer matches with a best-of-five format."

After defeating Baldwin Tuesday, Mt. Lebanon improved to an 8-0 record in Section 5-AAA. Moon Area is in second place at 6-2 followed by Baldwin at 5-3. The Blue Devils have already clinched a WPIAL playoff berth and clinched at least a tie for the section crown.

"I anticipated that we would be good, but there have been times where the girls exceeded my expectations," Begor said. "Ball control, really good ball control, has been the key to our success."

Another reason for Mt. Lebanon's success is the fact that all but three starters are back from last year's squad. Coach Begor has eight returning monogram-winners, including two who started on the 2007 Mt. Lebanon team that won a WPIAL title.

The senior duo who started in 2007 are 5-foot-11 setter Kate Begor and 5-11 middle blocker Rebecca Riemer. Begor is the coach's daughter.

"Kate is a four-year starter who has already committed to Duquesne University," coach Begor said. "She started as a freshman as a right-side hitter, then move to setter her sophomore year. It's great to have a setter with as much experience as Kate has."

Kate Begor was the only underclassman named a first-team WPIAL Class AAA All-Star last year. She was also voted to the PVCA Finest 40 list.

"Rebecca is a three-year starter at middle blocker," Begor said. "She's not as big as most of the top middle hitters, but does a great job for her size."

Begor and Riemer are two of five senior returning monogram-winners. The others are 5-8 outside hitter Alex Taylor, 5-11 middle hitter Colleen Daugherty and 5-7 outside hitter Meghan Kulzer.

Laura Dadowski, a 5-5 sophomore outside hitter, joined Begor as a WPIAL All-Star. Dadowski was voted to the third team.

"The play of our three sophomores has exceeded my expectations," Begor said. "All three saw varsity playing time as freshmen, but now are playing major roles. Laura is super-explosive for her size. She can jump out of the gym."

The other two sophomores Begor was referring to are 5-4 libero Caroline Dadowski, Laura's twin sister, and 5-9 right-side hitter Christy Tuchnowski.

Chloe Duvall, a 5-7 junior outside hitter, is also a returning monogram-winner.

Newcomers to Begor's starting rotation are 5-11 senior middle hitter Olivia Grattan, and a trio of 5-5 junior defensive specialists -- Maria Guadanino, Jamie Smith and Natalie Dadowski, the older sister of the twins.

Mt. Lebanon travels to Moon tonight and can clinch the section title with a victory.

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