Three wins are all that separate Greencastle-Antrim girls volleyball team from a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A state championship.
But in order to keep that dream alive, the Blue Devils will have to do something they couldn’t do last season: Advance past the state quarterfinals. Greencastle will try do just that on Saturday against Oakland Catholic in a clash we’ve deemed as our Match of the Week.
The Blue Devils are undefeated and spearheaded by senior Abigail Eagler, who was recently named the Mid-Penn Colonial Division’s Player of the Year. Eagler and Greencastle have overcome every challenge they’ve faced this season, but the Eagles from Oakland Catholic — guided by 6-foot-3 star Josie Fontana — are not going to leave without a fight.
Expect fireworks on Saturday when the Blue Devils and Eagles take the court at Windber High School.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Match of the Week. Any big upcoming games or matches we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Greencastle-Antrim vs. Oakland Catholic
Tip-off: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Windber High School
Records: Greencastle-Antrim is 22-0, while Oakland Catholic checks in at 20-2.
Last match: The Blue Devils dispatched Archbishop Carroll, 3-0, in the opening round of the PIAA Class 3A Tournament, while the Eagles cruised past Hollidaysburg by a 3-0 score.
What’s at stake: The winner advances to the state semifinals on Tuesday, while the season is over for the loser.
Meet the Blue Devils: If you’re a Greencastle fan, you just may be experiencing déjà vu during the Blue Devils’ postseason run … The Blue Devils are not only back-to-back District 3-3A champions, but also find themselves in the PIAA quarterfinals for the second year in a row … Coach Madee Goodwin’s girls, however, would like to go even further than they did in 2024, which saw them fall to Beaver Area, 3-0, in the quarterfinals … Greencastle is led by senior outside hitter Abigail Eagler, who was recently named as the Mid-Penn Colonial Division’s Player of the Year. Eagler, a Bloomsburg commit, leads the Blue Devils in kills (397) and service aces (71), while also ranking among team leaders in digs (265) and blocks (11) … Feeding Eagler the ball is setter Kylie Kerns, a Colonial First Teamer who has piled up 491 assists this fall. Kerns has also been Greencastle’s second-leading attacker with 227 kills … Kaitlyn Alvey (417 assists) has also been crucial in setting up the offense … Wren Roberts, a senior outside hitter and Second Team All-Star, has compiled 153 kills to go along with 38 aces, 11 blocks and 227 digs … The Blue Devils will be counting on Jordyn Wagner, a 5-foot-10 middle hitter, to have a big day at the net. Wagner, a Third Team All-Colonial selection, leads Greencastle with 71 blocks and has also rained down 141 kills.
Meet the Eagles: Led by coach Jenna Potts and 6-foot-3 outside hitter Josie Fontana, Oakland Catholic is on a historic postseason run … The Eagles won a Section I championship and qualified for the WPIAL title match in the first time in program history, which it lost to Beaver Area by a 3-0 score … Fontana, a WPIAL Section I First Team All-Star, is an imposing presence at the net, and the senior is committed to play for the University of Richmond next season … Oakland Catholic has two other First Team All-Stars in seniors Michayla Booth, a right-side hitter, and libero Elena Krummert … While Krummert is the Eagles’ defensive ace, junior setter and Second Team setter Raegan Mascaro fuels the offense, which includes Third Team middle hitters Rory O’Connell (5-foot-9) and Zephaniah Troxler Scott (5-7) … Freshman Eve Wrabley was a Second Team selection in the WPIAL and is expected to make an impact on Saturday.
Sandrik’s pick: Blue Devils by 1.
