Catasauqua, PA - October 31, 2024: In a matchup of two unbeaten teams, as well as both being their respective league champions, Southern Lehigh High School defeated Allentown Central Catholic High School 3-1 tonight to win the District XI 3A volleyball championship at Catasauqua High School.
The top seeded, and defending champions, Allentown Central Catholic High School came into the District XI championship after winning the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC) championship last week when they beat rival Bethlehem Catholic High School 3-2. Southern Lehigh High School won the Colonial League (CL) championship when they beat Jim Thorpe High School 3-1.
Southern Lehigh got off to a quick start in the first set, with Abby Stankewicz leading the way, and won that set 25-15. Their momentum carried them through to the second set which they won 25-22 behind Alexis Hoyer's performance. Allentown Central Catholic bounced back in the third set to win by a wide margin 25-9 and it seemed like ACC had the momentum and would make a comeback. In the third set, ACC was led by sophomore Emily Tucker. And, in another close set to win the match, Southern Lehigh behind Lydia Bartlett won the fourth set 25-22.
This was Southern Lehigh's second championship in six years and coincidentially, the last time they won it in 2019, they beat Allentown Central Catholic 3-2.
In the 4A championship, which followed the 3A and was also at Catasauqua High School, the top two seeded teams squared off. Top seeded Liberty High School defeated the defending champion Parkland High School 3-2 in a close match. Liberty won the first two sets (25-23, 25-23) before Parkland came storming back and won the next two sets (26-24, 25-19). Liberty then closed it out in the fifth set (17-15). This was a big win for Liberty volleyball as Parkland had won the District XI championship for the last 10 years.
The below photo shows the Southern Lehigh team after receiving their awards. For additional photos, please see our Instagram page.
