Meadville will play Ambridge today at noon at Laurel High School in the quarterfinal round of the PIAA boys volleyball playoffs.
Ambridge is the District 7 runner-up and enters the game with a 16-2 record. The Bridgers defeated Obama Academy 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-5) in the first round on Tuesday.
The Bridgers had three players selected for their local all-section team last month. Senior outside hitter Karson Merlina, senior opposite Anthony Seymour and junior outside hitter Nathan Sheffield.
“They are a well-coached and athletic team. They have a very dynamic outside attack and an opposite that are aggressive. We saw them at their scrimmage early this season,” Meadville head coach Nick Bancroft said. “We have to win the serve and pass game.”
Ambridge was ranked No. 5 in the latest poll from the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. Meadville was ranked No. 1, where the Bulldogs have been ranked all season.
Meadville topped South Fayette 3-0 (25-23, 25-11, 25-15) on Tuesday in the first round. Parker Gosnell led the attack with 10 kills. Kellen Ball added eight, Evan Peterson seven and Tymir Phillips six. Gosnell, Phillips and fellow junior Luc Soerensen were each all-state selections last year.
The Bulldogs won Tuesday’s match without Soerensen, who was in Anaheim, Calif. attending a training camp with the 2025 U.S. Boys U19 National Team. Soerensen is scheduled to be back in time for today’s match and allow Meadville to be at full strength.
The winner of today’s match will advance to the state semifinals on Tuesday and play the winner of Shaler and Brandywine Heights.
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