If there’s one word to describe Class 3A right now, it’s chaos. Upsets are happening everywhere, and the rankings feel more like a snapshot than a forecast. Still, a few things are becoming clear: Beaver and Oakland Catholic have separated themselves from the pack, South Fayette is the hottest team in the classification, and Hampton and Chartiers Valley continue to grind out wins behind young, fearless cores. Meanwhile, defending champ Mars is down—but far from out.
1 – Oakland Catholic
The Eagles continue to look like the most balanced team in 3A, sweeping Moon and taking down Montour in four. Josie Fontana remains a force, and Oakland’s defense is as organized as ever. They’ll get a test this week from Chartiers Valley, but right now, they’ve earned every bit of that No. 1 ranking.
1 – Beaver
The Bobcats stay right alongside Oakland after a dominant road sweep at Mars. Their front-line duo of Kailyn Connelly and Lainie Malobabich continue to power the attack, keeping Beaver every bit the title favorite.
3 – South Fayette
From unranked to No. 3 — that’s how fast things can change when you’re hot. The Lions, led by their veteran head coach, are playing inspired volleyball right now, sweeping Montour and outlasting Chartiers Valley in a five-set thriller. Their rise is no fluke; this group is balanced, confident, and climbing fast.
4 – Hampton
The Talbots are young but fearless, following up a sweep of Armstrong with a gutsy five-set win over Mars. Senior setter Lilly Muczinski has been the steady hand guiding this group, setting the tone and leading by example. Hampton’s chemistry and poise make them one of the most dangerous teams outside the top two.
5 – Chartiers Valley
The Colts continue to show promise — and inconsistency. They picked up wins over Baldwin and Trinity but couldn’t quite finish off South Fayette in a five-set heartbreaker. With such a young roster, growing pains are expected, but this team’s ceiling remains high heading toward playoff time.
Out of the Rankings
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Mars – The defending champs have hit a rough patch, dropping back-to-back matches to Beaver (0–3) and Hampton (2–3). Still, their pedigree means nobody’s sleeping on them when the postseason arrives.
On the Fringe
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Greensburg Salem – Rolling through section play, sweeping Gateway and topping Franklin Regional in four. They also took home their own tournament title.
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Thomas Jefferson – Stacking wins with sweeps over Bethel Park, Albert Gallatin, and Uniontown. A statement win Tuesday vs. Trinity could push them up.
Games to Watch
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Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Chartiers Valley at Oakland Catholic: A key matchup for both — can CV hang with the top team in 3A?
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Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Trinity at Thomas Jefferson: TJ needs a quality win to break through from fringe to ranked.