The Seneca Valley High School girls' volleyball team made a valiant comeback in Saturday's WPIAL Class AAA title match against Mt. Lebanon ... but it wasn't quite enough.

The Raiders had to settle for a silver medal after suffering a heartbreaking, 3-2, loss to the Blue Devils.

"My girls made a valiant comeback and had the title within their grasp," Seneca Valley coach Karen Martini said. "It's obviously disappointing, but we lost to a very good team."

Mt. Lebanon opened the match with an impressive 25-20 victory, then watched Seneca Valley build leads of 8-0 and 10-1 in the second game. Surprisingly, the Raiders allowed their lead to slip away, as the Blue Devils rallied to record a 27-25 victory.

"I told the girls that we beat ourselves," said Martini, when asked what words of wisdom she had for the team after the disappointing loss in game two. "Mt. Lebanon didn't beat us. We beat ourselves."

Seneca Valley opened the third game in similar fashion by scoring five of the first six points, and built a six-point lead (21-15) late in the match, then held off the Blue Devils' late comeback bid to record a narrow 26-24 victory.

"We were very confident after the second game," Mt. Lebanon middle hitter Rebecca Riemer said. "We weren't prepared for [Seneca Valley] to come back."

Seneca Valley's good fortune continued in game four, as the Raiders jumped out to an 8-2 lead and never looked back in a 25-16 victory.

"The girls knew it was do or die [after the game two loss]," Martini said. "They knew if they didn't do it now, they might never get a chance to do it again."

Seneca Valley had the momentum going into game five and Mt. Lebanon knew it.

"I've never been nervous for a game in my life, but my stomach started jumping before that game a little bit," Mt. Lebanon setter Kate Begor said.

Unfortunately, Seneca Valley's momentum did not carry over to the fifth game, as Mt. Lebanon posted a 15-10 victory.

"We felt so good going into the fifth game," Martini said. "To battle back from a two-game deficit in the WPIAL championship match is an amazing feat. It was so heartbreaking to see the girls lose in the fifth game."

Seneca Valley earned its WPIAL playoff berth by tying with North Allegheny for the Section 3-AAA title and was seeded No. 2 in the 15-team bracket. The Raiders opened the playoffs with a 25-17, 25-10, 25-6 sweep of Ringgold, then swept Baldwin, 25-14, 25-18, 25-19, in the quarterfinals.

The Raiders faced a familiar opponent in the semifinals, as they faced off with North Allegheny in the rubber match. Seneca Valley rallied from behind twice to record a 19-25, 25-12, 23-25, 25-20, 15-8 victory against the Tigers.

"I'm very proud of the way my girls battled back after losing the first two games [against Mt. Lebanon]," Martini said. "We just have to put this match behind us and get ready for the [PIAA] tournament."

Seneca Valley swept District 6 champion Altoona, 3-0, in the first round of the PIAA tournament Tuesday night. The Raiders advance to tomorrow's quarterfinal round robin, which will take place at Central York High School. Mt. Lebanon also advanced by sweeping City League champion Schenley, 3-0.

Losses in the semifinals kept North Allegheny and Pine-Richland out of the PIAA playoffs.

"It's unfair that the WPIAL gets only two PIAA berths in Class AAA," Martini said. "We should have at least three berths. North Allegheny and Pine-Richland are both worthy of a PIAA berth, but both will be sitting at home."

Martini knows from experience what it's like to lose in the semifinals.

"Last year, we were the top seed and lost to Pine-Richland, 3-2, in the semifinals," Martini said. "I know what it feels like."

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