D9and10Sports/Yourdailylocal is counting down what we believe are the Top 25 moments/games/performances of the 2021-22 high school sports season in District 9 and District 10. The countdown is powered by Hunter’s Station Golf Course just outside of Tionesta
CLARION, Pa. – Twice was indeed nice for Clarion volleyball, as the Lady Cats rolled to their second consecutive PIAA Class 1A volleyball title in 2021.
It’s hard to put into words just how dominant Clarion has been over the last two years. Not only have the Lady Cats been undefeated the last two seasons, a stretch that includes a 45-match win streak, but they also didn’t drop a set on their way to the PIAA title either season.
Clarion is just the fourth team to go back-to-back in Class 1A since the PIAA added a 1A classification in 1999 joining Farrell (2001 and 2002), Reading Central Catholic (2006 and 2007), and Northern Cambria (2018 and 2019).
The Lady Cats have lost just three sets over the last two seasons, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t challenged. Every time they were, however, the Lady Cats were up to the task.
The closest they came to a loss in the 2021 campaign came on Sept. 20, when they trailed at Warren two sets to one, only to rally for victory. On Oct. 11 they trailed DuBois 21-13 in the second set, again rallying for victory (27-25).
Their road to the PIAA title included wins over California (25-13, 25-10, 25-10), Greensburg Central Catholic (25-22, 25-22, 25-17), and Bishop Canevin (25-23, 25-14, 25-21) before a 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-18) triumph over Sacred Heart in the final.
Division I St. Francis (Pa.) recruit Korrin Burns led the way with a District 9-best 581 kills (5.98 per set) while hitting .343. She also was the team leader in digs (220, 2.3 per set), and aces (54) while ranking second in blocks with 25.
Burns’ 581 kills ranked tied for 63rd nationally among teams who entered stats into MaxPreps.com and first in Pennsylvania, while her 5.98 per set were fifth-most in Pennsylvania.
Burns was joined on the All-District 9 D9and10Sports.com first team by setter Noel Anthony and libero Jordan Best.
Those three players, as well as Aryana Girvan (outside hitter) and Payton Simko (right side) were all selected as PVCA All-State in Class 1A.
Burns had 19 kills in the PIAA final win over Sacred Heart, while Aryana Girvin had10 kills, Payton Simko six, and Adia Needham four.
The run of dominance includes more than just the last two years. It spans 23 years with 19 KSAC titles, 15 District 9 championships, and three PIAA titles and amassing a record of 426-64 over that span.
