Notable changes to the 2025-26 WPIAL boys volleyball alignment

By: Bill Hartlep
Monday, September 16, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall.

This summer, the Tribune-Review will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports.

Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL boys volleyball season:

2024 WPIAL championships

Class 3A: Shaler

Class 2A: Mars

Notable changes

The WPIAL board created a new section in each class for boys volleyball for the next two-year cycle, allowing for tournaments and few section matches. Each team will have between just eight and 10 section matches.

• In Class 3A, a new-look Section 2 includes Armstrong and Latrobe, which bumped up from 2A, along with Hempfield, Norwin and Penn-Trafford, which all moved over from Section 3.

Section 3-3A features the former Section 2 teams, whereas Section 4 includes Gateway, which moved up from 2A, along with Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, North Hills, Penn Hills and Plum.

• Class 2A’s big move was two-time WPIAL 3A champion Shaler moving down into Section 2, along with Beaver County Christian and North Catholic, which moved over from Section 1.

Section 1 now houses Deer Lakes, Derry and Steel Valley, which moved over from Sections 2 and 3. Bishop Canevin moved from Section 1 to 3. And the new Section 4 includes most of the Section 1 teams.

In and out

• Six new teams will play WPIAL schedules in spring — Mt. Lebanon (Section 1) and Franklin Regional (Section 2) in Class 3A and McKeesport and Summit Academy (Section 1), Aquinas Academy (Section 2) and Brentwood (Section 3) in Class 2A.

Past champions

• Shaler won a second straight WPIAL Class 3A title last spring, and Mars won its first championship.

• North Allegheny leads the WPIAL with 22 championships in boys volleyball.

Others with five or more titles include Homestead (14), Penn Hills (13), Ambridge (10) and Coraopolis (6).

Key dates

March 3: First practice date

March 8: First scrimmage date

March 14: First play date

March 25: First section date

May 9: WPIAL committee meeting

May 21-23: WPIAL championships

June 14: PIAA championships

2025-26 alignment

Class 3A

Section 1: Baldwin, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair

Section 2: Armstrong, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe, Norwin, Penn-Trafford

Section 3: Butler, Moon, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley

Section 4: Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Gateway, North Hills, Penn Hills, Plum

Class 2A

Section 1: Deer Lakes, Derry, McKeesport, Steel Valley, Summit Academy

Section 2: Aquinas Academy, Beaver County Christian, Mars, North Catholic, Shaler

Section 3: Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Keystone Oaks, Seton LaSalle, South Park, Thomas Jefferson

Section 4: Ambridge, Hopewell, Montour, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, South Fayette, Trinity

Editor’s note: This story was updated to include that Steel Valley will compete in Sectoin 1-2A for the next two year cycle.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Mars, Shaler