Canon-Mac volleyball in position to win 4th straight section title

A sign of a program with a strong foundation is the ability to replace departing seniors with newcomers and hardly miss a beat.

That’s what Canon-McMillan boys volleyball team has accomplished in recent years.

Even after graduating four starters from last year’s team, the Big Macs are in position to extend their section title streak to four.

They are tied with Mt. Lebanon for first place in the WPIAL Class 3A Section 1 standings and wins in their two games, against Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park, guarantees at least a share of the section championship.

“Our program has grown a lot since 2020,” Canon-McMillan coach Sheila Mitchell said. “We’ve brought more kids that are into volleyball and athletes that play multiple sports. We’ve created a culture where kids are having fun and they are winning at the same time. I think some kids are seeing that and want to be part of it.”

The Big Macs are 12-2 overall and 7-1 in section play.

They shared a section title in 2022 with Upper St. Clair and won it outright the last two years.

Another shared section title may be on the horizon, because Canon-McMillan and Mt. Lebanon have already split their season series.

Both matches went five sets. Mt. Lebanon took the first one and Canon-McMillan won the rematch.

“It was our first section loss in three years, which was tough, but Mt. Lebanon is a tough team, so we couldn’t hang our heads too low,” Mitchell said. “We came back and got them the second time we played them. The first one we won the first set and then it went back and forth. The second game they won the first set, and the same thing happened where it went back and forth again. We were two evenly matched teams.”

Four key players, Justin Peters, Nolan Rosing, Jack Steele and Landon Patterson, returned for the Big Macs.

Peters, a senior, is the equivalent to a utility man in baseball. He sets in the back row and when he rotates to the net he hits from the right side.

Mitchell said Peters leads the team in kills, assists and service aces.

“We run a 6-2 (rotation), which means there’s always a setter in the back row,” Mitchell said. “Justin sets in the back row and hits in the front row, because he’s a very strong hitter.”

Alongside Peters in the front row is Landon Patterson and Jack Steele.

Patterson, a junior, is an outside hitter and is second on the team in kills.

Steele is a 6-4 senior that patrols the middle of the net. His size makes for a deterrent for opponents trying to hit over the block.

“Jack is very powerful offensively and defensively with his block,” Mitchell said. “The big-tall middles don’t always get the serving opportunities they want, but Jack is a very good server with some aces on the season and we keep him in the back row for defense.”

Rosing, a senior, is the starting libero and works as a defensive captain in the back row.

A good example of a newcomer stepping in right away and making a difference is freshman setter Aydin Winkleblech. Aydin is the younger brother of former Canon-McMillan baseball standout Austyn Winkleblech.

Winkleblech entered the starting lineup immediately and has performed well.

“He’s come in right away and been strong enough to run our offense,” Mitchell said. “He’s falling right in line with Justin’s skills. I think he’ll be a key player for us the next few years.”

Canon-McMillan made it to the Class 3A quarterfinals last season before losing to longtime WPIAL boys volleyball power North Allegheny, which has won a record 22 titles.

Northern schools like North Allegheny, Shaler, Seneca Valley and Butler have traditionally been the strongest teams in Class 3A, but the Big Macs are building a winning program and will look to continue to compete and grow as this year’s playoffs arrive.

“We’re going to try and put the best six on the court and have the best team around them to help them to try and beat those teams,” Mitchell said. “We know they are strong, but I wouldn’t say we can’t do it. Never say never.”