Published: November 14, 2009 11:44 pm      

Northern Cambria girls win volleyball gold

YORK — The Black and Gold are champions again.

Northern Cambria brought home its second PIAA Class A volleyball title Saturday, beating defending champion Reading Holy Name 3-0 in the title match.

“It never gets old,” said Northern Cambria’s Mike Hogan, whose 2005 team also won the state title. “They ask me, ‘Why do you keep coaching after all of these years?’ ... For the kids to put it on the line like that, and all the support we got from everybody, that’s why you keep coaching.”

Northern Cambria cruised to a 25-14 victory in Game 1 and looked to be in control up 9-1 in Game 2, but Holy Name rallied to tie it at 14. Six lead changes and 13 ties later, the Colts walked away with a 30-28 victory.

The Colts fell behind in Game 3 before rallying for a 25-22 victory and the state title.

“It almost feels like a dream,” senior libero Jess Rocco said. “I know when we get home it’s going to hit us that we’re the best in the state.”

Last year, Northern Cambria was eliminated during pool play, and Hogan had a message for his players that would return this year.

“They were just part of it last year,” he recalled. “I said, ‘You’re not part of it, you’re IT. You’ve got to make it happen next year.’ ”