Plymouth Whitemarsh advances to District 1-AAAA final, tops Council Rock North in 4

WHITEMARSH >> The Plymouth Whitemarsh girls volleyball team defeated Council Rock North in four sets, 26-24, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21, in the District 1 Class AAAA semifinals at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Thursday night.

The No. 2 seeded Colonials will play No. 1 seeded Bishop Shanahan for the district championship Saturday at Upper Dublin High School at 6 p.m.

The biggest play of the entire match came In the opening set. Trailing 21-19, Council Rock North had a beautiful hit that deflected off a PW defender and towards the front row of the crowd. Colonials’ junior Emilee Waltz chased it down and passed it to a teammate who returned it over the net. PW went on to win the point and six of the ensuing eight points to take the match, 26-24, with the winner being an illegal hit by the Indians.

PW wins, 25-21 in 4th set. 3-1 winner. On to District final! pic.twitter.com/TksbEOlo1B

— Ed Morlock (@emor09) November 4, 2016

The teams got off to even starts in the second set, tied at eight after the first 16 points. The Indians scored the next seven points to go ahead 15-8 and they maintained that lead until PW’s Danielle Rippert tied the set at 20.

North scored the next three points surrendered one and won the final two to even the match with a 25-21 win.

The third set was more of the same. The teams were tied at eight, but this time it was PW that took control. With Samantha Ward serving, the Colonials took a 12-8 lead that they wouldn’t lose the rest of the set. They finished it out, 25-22, on an illegal hit by North to take a 2-1 lead.

PW’s best hitter of the night – Lily Acquaviva – took over in the fourth and final set. She had a key ace to bring the Colonials within two, 17-15, midway through the set and did everything she could to shut the door.

PW tied the set at 18 on a Lauren Coscia kill and Acquaviva scored the team’s 22nd, 23rd and 24th points with kills.

The match-winner came when North couldn’t return a Coscia serve and PW celebrated a 25-21 win.

North’s big hitters played well in the game. Morgan Collito, Birdie Ligos and Sarah Caola each showed off their powerful swings in the semifinal.

North will play in the District 1 third place game against No. 4 seeded Downingtown West Saturday at Upper Dublin at 4:30 p.m.