Another banner year for District 3 programs in Pa. state volleyball
District 3's time to shine
Dating back to 1982, District 3 boys' volleyball has been a dominant force on the PIAA stage for the last 37 years. At least one District 3 boys' volleyball team has advanced to a PIAA final in all but five (1986, 1987, 1995, 1998, 2000) of the last 37 seasons.
This year also marks the third time in six seasons where a pair of York-Adams league teams will have the chance to win both the big- and small-school state championships.
Central York and Northeastern accomplished the feat in 2014 and 2017, while Central and York Suburban will have a chance to do the same Saturday in State College.
While impressive, District 3 is not the first region to dominate the sport. District 8 (western Pa.), District 7 (WPIAL) and District 1 (suburban Philadelphia) have all experienced periods of dominance in the state.
Led by six straight final appearances by Westinghouse (1936-41), District 8 dominated at the state level for the first 17 years of the state tournament's existence. (A tournament was not held during World War II in 1943 or 1944.) Pittsburgh schools Westinghouse and Peabody combined to win 12 of the 15 championships awarded during this timespan.
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District 7 dominated in the 1950s and early 1960s, with Monessen and Homestead combining to win nine of the 10 titles awarded from 1953-62.
The Haverford dynasty stretched into the 1980s after the District 1 program established a PIAA record by winning six consecutive state championships from 1966-71.
Central York started winning state championships in the 1970s, knocking off Haverford to win the Panthers' first state crown in 1975. In quick succession, District 3 teams started to experience continued success at the state level.
No one has matched Hempfield's 10 state championships, including winning six state titles in seven years (2001-07). But Northeastern has come close, rattling off six consecutive state championships (2013-18) in the small-school classification to match Haverford's state mark.
All the while, Central York has continued to be a force at the state level: Reaching the state final three times in the last six seasons.
Volleyball state champions from District 3
Hempfield: 10* state titles
Northeastern: 9 state titles
Central York: 7 state titles
Central Dauphin, Chambersburg, Conestoga Valley, Cumberland Valley, Exeter, New Oxofrd, Wyomissing: 1 state title each
* — Denotes PIAA record.
Two biggest volleyball dynasties, consecutive state titles
Northeastern: 6* (2018-12)
Haverford: 6* (1971-66)
* — Denotes tie for PIAA record.
State final appearances
North Allegheny: 17*
Central York: 15+
Peabody: 14
Haverford: 11
Homestead: 11
Northeastern: 10
* — Denotes PIAA record.
+ — Counts 1948, 1949 appearance by North York before a merger created Central York High School.
State final appearances by District 3 programs
For almost 20 years, a District 3 program has advance to the state final every season. At least one D3 team has reached a title game every year since 2001. (York-Adams league teams are bolded.)
2019: Class 3A, Central York vs. North Allegheny
2019: Class 2A, York Suburban vs. Meadville
2018: Class 3A, North Allegheny def. Hempfield, 3-0
2018: Class 2A, Northeastern def. Manheim Central, 3-1
2017: Class 3A, Central York def. North Allegheny, 3-1
2017: Class 2A, Northeastern def. Beaver County Christian, 3-1
2016: Class 3A, Hempfield def. Penn Manor, 3-2
2016: Class 2A, Northeastern def. Ambridge, 3-0
2015: Class 2A, Northeastern def. Saegertown, 3-0
2014: Class 3A, Central York def. North Allegheny, 3-0
2014: Class 2A, Northeastern def. Ambridge, 3-0
2013: Class 2A, Northeastern def. Ambridge, 3-1
2012: Class 3A, Chambersburg def. Pennridge, 3-2
2012: Class 2A, Bethlehem Catholic def. York Suburban, 3-1
2011: Class 3A, Central York def. North Allegheny, 3-1
2010: Class 2A, Northeastern def. Meadville, 3-1
2009: Class 3A, Central Dauphin def. Penn Hills, 3-2
2008: Class 3A, Cumberland Valley def. Central York, 3-2
2008: Class 2A, Wyomissing def. Ambridge, 3-2
2007: Class 3A, Hempfield def. Pennsbury, 3-0
2007: Class 2A, Exeter def. Northeastern, 3-2
2006: Hempfield def. Fox Chapel, 3-1
2005: New Oxford def. Norwin, 3-1
2004: Hempfield def. Pennsbury, 3-0
2003: Hempfield def. North Allegheny, 2-1
2002: Hempfield def. North Allegheny, 2-1
2001: Hempfield def. Mt. Lebanon, 2-1
1999: North Allegheny def. Spring Grove, 2-1
1997: Hempfield def. Central York, 2-1
1996: Hempfield def. Baldwin, 2-0
1994: Hempfield def. Derry Area, 2-0
1993: Northeastern def. North Allegheny, 2-1
1992: Northeastern def. Emmaus, 2-0
1991: North Allegheny def. Hempfield, 2-0
1990: Penn Hills def. Dallastown, 2-0
1989: Maplewood def. Central York, 2-0
1988: Derry Area def. Central York, 2-0
1985: Central York def. North Allegheny, 2-1
1984: Penn Hills def. Central York, 2-0
1983: Conestoga Valley def. North Allegheny, 2-1
1982: Central York def. North Allegheny, 2-1
1977: Central York def. Penn Hills, 2-1
1975: Central York def. Haverford, 2-0
1954: Homestead def. Spring Grove
1949: Peabody def. North York, 2-1
1948: Homestead def. North York, 2-1