Parity is the theme in Class 3A, that is of course, after Beaver, who has separated themselves from the pack. With marquee wins against bigger schools and a tournament title under their belt, the Bobcats are the clear frontrunner. Oakland Catholic has been equally sharp in section play, while Chartiers Valley, Freeport, and Mars round out a competitive Top 5. Add in a handful of hungry programs like Trinity, Greensburg Salem, and Indiana, and the chase is just getting started.
1 – Beaver
The Bobcats made the loudest statement of the week, going on the road and knocking off Class 4A contender Upper St. Clair in four sets. They followed that with section sweeps of Lincoln Park and New Castle, then dominated the MAC Tournament — capped by a championship win over Hopewell. Beaver looks the part of an early 3A favorite.
2 – Oakland Catholic
OC has quickly seized control of Section 1. They swept Montour at home and then went on the road to handle Chartiers Valley in straight sets. With steady defense and balance across the lineup, Oakland Catholic has shown the consistency needed to stay at the top.
3 – Chartiers Valley
The Colts opened the week with a road sweep of South Fayette but couldn’t keep pace at home against Oakland Catholic. Still, CV’s talent is clear, and with more big matches on the horizon, they’ll have chances to reassert themselves.
4 – Freeport
The Yellowjackets keep rolling, sweeping Valley and Knoch to stay perfect in Section 2. Freeport’s tested roster is quietly building momentum, and their Thursday matchup with an upstart Hampton team looms as their first major challenge.
5 – Mars
The Fightin’ Planets handled Hampton and Highlands with sweeps, but their run at the MAC Tournament ended with a disappointing semifinal loss to Hopewell. Mars has the talent and pedigree to contend, but they’ll need to show it against stronger competition.
On the Fringe
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Greensburg Salem – Competitive group looking to break into the Top 5.
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Trinity – Early results show promise, especially with section play heating up.
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Indiana – Fast start with quality wins over Armstrong, Gateway, and Franklin Regional.
Games to Watch this Week
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Tuesday, Sept. 16 – Chartiers Valley at Moon: Section clash with big seeding implications.
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Thursday, Sept. 18 – Oakland Catholic at Trinity: Can the Eagles stay in control of Section 1?
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Thursday, Sept. 18 – Freeport at Hampton: Huge Section 2 matchup.
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Thursday, Sept. 18 – Laurel Highlands at Thomas Jefferson: Important test for both sides in Section 3.