Historic Season Ends as Lady Wildcats Fall to Mars in PIAA AAA State Playoffs
MARS-The Central Mountain Lady Wildcats made school history Tuesday night as they entered the PIAA AAA Volleyball State playoffs for the first time, taking on WPIAL Champion Mars. Despite a strong effort, the Lady Wildcats fell 3-0 in sets to the Lady Fighting Planets.
Mars started strong, winning the first set 25-15, followed by a closer second set at 25-19, and finished with a dominant 25-7 in the third.
The Lady Wildcats wrapped up an impressive season, making school history by becoming the first Central Mountain team to claim a District 6 title. They finished 14-3 in the PIAA AAA standings and 24-7 overall, showcasing the team’s growth and determination.
Several Wildcats stood out on the court, with stars #2 Gabby Beaubrun and #5 Kylie Rauch delivering exceptional performances. Chloe Confer impressed with her serving, and Cora Myers was a key factor in the game.
The Wildcats were especially grateful for the contributions of their seniors—Payton Kinley, Katelyn Bowman, Claire Bowman, Cora Myers, Ellen Banfill, and Heidi Miller—all of whom had special moments throughout the season and played key roles in helping the team reach this historic milestone.
Head Coach Chipp McCann praised the team: “This is a great group of girls, and I’m proud of them for accomplishing several goals this year. We have a lot of talent returning,” he noted, also thanking his assistant, Kat Bates, for her support.
McCann expressed gratitude for Athletics Director Dave Peters and the Wildcats’ student section, who made the trip to Mars, and the community members who supported the team by raising funds for the bus. Mars will move on to face the winner of the Meadville and Hampton match in the next round.
