Eden Christian resets for playoff run

Eden Christian Academy enters the WPIAL Class A girls volleyball tournament with a clean slate and a specific mandate to reset. The Warriors, who finished the regular season with a 19-0 record, have received a first-round bye but now face a rematch with their first opponent of the postseason.

The team’s dominance this year is reflected in its standing as the top seed. Eden won the Section 1 championship with a 14-0 mark, finishing ahead of Beaver County Christian, Western Beaver, and Union. The roster features a mix of experience and youth, dominated by juniors and sophomores. Coach Jillian Zentko, in her fifth year, has rotated nine players into the game-day lineup.

The squad includes several key contributors. Juniors Erin Hull, Addi Mathieu, Emily Muir, Phebe Falavolito, and Bella Yurkovic anchor the rotation. They are joined by senior Nina Oliver, sophomores Peach Oliver and Annalese Harring, and freshman Gia Knopp. This group defeated Serra Catholic, 3-1, in last year’s WPIAL finals to claim the Class A title.

Zentko emphasized the need for refocus now that the season has moved to the next phase. “We can’t get caught up in what we’ve already accomplished,” Zentko said. “We need to put God first and take it one point, one set and one match at a time.” The coach noted that the team’s record is effectively 0-0 in the postseason, requiring a fresh start.

The first challenge arrives in the quarterfinals against No. 8 Western Beaver. The two teams clashed on Oct. 29 at Avonworth, marking their third meeting this season. Western Beaver secured its spot in the quarterfinals by defeating No. 9 Bishop Canevin, 3-0, in the opening round.

Five other teams also received early byes in the 10-team Class A field. They include No. 2 Serra Catholic, No. 3 Aquinas Academy, No. 4 St. Joseph, No. 5 Beaver County Christian, and No. 6 Trinity Christian. The top three finishers in this bracket will qualify for the PIAA tournament.