Eden Christian Academy enters WPIAL playoffs as defending champions
The Warriors, who finished the regular season with a 19-0 record, hold a first-round bye and face Western Beaver in the quarterfinals.
By Noor Graham ·
Eden Christian Academy enters the WPIAL Class A girls volleyball postseason as the top seed and defending champion. The Warriors secured a first-round bye after finishing the 2026 regular season with a 19-0 record. They also won the Section 1 championship with a 14-0 mark in conference play.
The team last claimed the WPIAL title a year ago by defeating Serra Catholic, 3-1, in the finals. This season, the Class A playoff bracket includes ten teams. The top three finishers in the tournament will qualify for the PIAA state competition.
Head coach Jillian Zentko, who is in her fifth year with the program, described the team as a group of developing athletes. She noted that the roster is primarily composed of juniors and sophomores. Zentko has rotated nine players into the game-day lineup throughout the season.
The squad features a mix of veteran and young talent. Key contributors include junior setter Erin Hull, who stands 5-foot-11, and junior outside hitter Addi Mathieu, who is 5-foot-10. The roster also includes sophomore Annalese Harring, a 5-foot-9 middle blocker, and freshman setter Gia Knopp, who is 5-foot-7.
Zentko emphasized the need to reset now that the regular season is over. She stated that the team must refocus and treat the new tournament record as 0-0. The coach said the players are working to build chemistry and learn to compete together under pressure.
The Warriors will face No. 8 Western Beaver in the quarterfinals on October 29 at Avonworth. This will be the third meeting between the two schools this season. Western Beaver advanced to this round after defeating No. 9 Bishop Canevin, 3-0, in the opening round.
Five other teams also received first-round byes in the Class A bracket. These teams include No. 2 Serra Catholic, No. 3 Aquinas Academy, No. 4 St. Joseph, No. 5 Beaver County Christian, and No. 6 Trinity Christian. Eden Christian finished Section 1 with a 14-0 record, ahead of Beaver County Christian, which posted a 12-2 mark.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
