State College took the floor Tuesday night in Carlisle needing just one more win to wrap up its first ever Mid-Penn Commonwealth girls' volleyball title.
Those title hopes were put on hold after the host Thundering Herd pulled off a 25-17, 17-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-11 victory.
"All in all, it was our best team effort of the season," Carlisle coach Mike Beachey said.
"Everybody on the team had a hand in this one and our offense was incredible. I think that really helped our chances for districts."
Carlisle (9-6, 9-6) entered this final week of the regular season with 19th best District 3-AAA power ranking. The teams with the 20 best power rankings qualify for the upcoming 3-AAA playoffs.
Ali Harclerode led the Thundering Herd with 49 digs as her team led this one 1-0 and 2-1 before pulling off the 15-11 win in the final set.
The Little Lions (15-1, 14-1), who still lead Cumberland Valley by one game for first place in the Commonwealth, can clinch the division crown with a win Thursday over Chambersburg.
Cumberland Valley (13-2, 13-2), which lost both regular season meetings with State College, can still share the Commonwealth title if it beats CD East on Thursday and State College falls to Chambersburg.
COMMONWEALTH
Rosa Veliky finished with 15 kills, 13 digs and two aces as Central Dauphin downed Red Land in four sets. ... Liashira Rivera totaled seven kills, seven digs and four aces in Chambersburg's straight set win over Mifflin County. ... seniors Tayler Whitman, Becky Conrad, Aleix Farrow and Jess Butts combined for 12 kills to lead Cedar Cliff to a three game sweep of CD East.
COLONIAL
Kassidy Shumaker had eight kills and three aces and Lauren Martin served up seven aces as Hershey upset Palmyra 18-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 15-7. The loss dropped Palmyra (14-2, 13-2) out of a first place tie with Trinity. Rachel Kline led the Cougars with 13 kills. ... Hannah Fry notched a match high 16 kills as Trinity swept Steel-High and took over sole possession of first place. The Shamrocks can clinch the division with a win Thursday over Harrisburg. ... Lower Dauphin turned back Mechanicsburg in four sets as Annie Goerl had 11 kills, 10 assists and six aces. ... Emily Mattes had 13 kills and six aces, while Jordan Arnold had 24 assists in Middletown's straight set win over Milton Hershey.
CAPITAL
One night after rallying for a five set win over Greencastle-Antrim, Gettysburg outlasted Northern in five sets as Claudia Guise had six kills, 41 assists and five aces. The win pulled Gettysburg into a first place tie with idle Greencastle-Antrim. The Blue Devils play James Buchanan on Thursday, while Gettysburg tangles with West Perry. ... Megan Smith dominated with 17 kills to lead West Perry to a straight set win over James Buchanan. ... Big Spring took down James Buchanan in four sets, while Shippensburg was a straight set winner over Boiling Springs.