West Branch Clips Central Mountain in Five Sets
By Tom Elling
MILL HALL — Fans of District 6 volleyball expected a classic matchup when undefeated powers West Branch and Central Mountain met Monday night. They got exactly that — a five-set thriller between two of the region’s best programs.
Monday also served as a pink out game to support cancer.
Class A West Branch entered with a 13-0 divisional record, while Class 3A Central Mountain also stood at 13-0. The two teams had met earlier this season in tournament play, with the Lady Warriors edging the Lady Wildcats in a single set.
While both teams entered spotless, neither coach was completely satisfied afterward.
“We knew this would be a tough match with Central Mountain,” said West Branch coach Terry Trude. “But I can’t be happy with the way we served tonight. We gave away too many easy points. Central Mountain is an excellent team and well-coached. I wish them well in the postseason.”
Lady Wildcats coach Chipp McCann echoed the sentiment.
“We gave away a lot of points tonight,” McCann said. “We made more mistakes than West Branch, especially from the service line in the first set. You can’t do that against a team like West Branch. Terry (Trude) is a great coach and a great guy. I wish him and his team well in the playoffs.”
Back-and-Forth Battle
The first set showcased the early jitters. Central Mountain committed four service errors — including on set point — as West Branch claimed a 25-19 win despite three of its own service miscues. Gabby Beaubrun, Kylie Rauch, and Lilly Downing led the Wildcat attack, with Chloe Confer steady as the team’s setter. Lexi Mulhollem provided a spark for the Warriors.
Central Mountain responded in set two with a convincing 25-15 victory. Downing and Sofia Kelley joined Beaubrun and Rauch with strong kills, while Alana Ingram and Allison Koch made key blocks at the net. Confer capped the set with an ace for the 25th point.
Set three was a nail-biter. Tied at 22, West Branch closed with three straight points behind Madison Korb, who delivered an ace to end it, 25-22. Beaubrun, Rauch, Kelley, and Downing again paced Central’s offense, while Reese Walizer made several crucial digs.
Facing elimination, Central Mountain roared back in set four. The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead and extended it to 20-13 behind an ace from Beaubrun. Rauch, Koch, Ingram, and Sophia Hardy provided energy at the net. Despite a late push from West Branch’s Mulhollem and Haley Woodling, Central held on for a 25-21 win to force the deciding set.
Warriors Finish Strong
The final set featured eight ties before Woodling took control for West Branch, delivering two key kills and sealing the match point. The Lady Warriors prevailed 15-11 to clinch the win.
Both teams have already locked up top seeds in their respective classifications heading into postseason play. Central Mountain (13-1) is expected to host Bellefonte in the Class 3A semifinals, while West Branch (14-0) remains unbeaten in Class A.
