It was last year that the Lady Tigers were on the District 6 Class 3A championship stage against Central Mountain, but the Lady Wildcats survived that five-set thriller for the title.

New year, same teams, with a much different result.

The Lady Tigers showed how much they grew up by flipping the script in a sweep to clinch their fourth district championship in the last seven years against Central Mountain, this time 25-22, 25-19, 25-22.

“These seniors were different this year,” Hollidaysburg coach Brandon Stitt said. “It’s been three years since we’ve won. These guys were freshmen, they got to see it. They haven’t been able to feel it for the past three years.

Photo for the Mirror by Tim Weight Hollidaysburg sophomore Delayni Baird celebrates a point for her team.

“Seeing the seniors that first year (win the championship), then feeling the gut wrench the next year, and the next year, and then being like ‘alright, enough’s enough man, this is the year we’re turning it around.’ The seniors made all of the difference.”

One of those seniors making an impact was outside hitter Addi Basenbeck who recorded two of her three aces in the opening set. She added 11 kills for the night as the Lady Tigers took set one.

“It feels really good (to win the title) because I got to do it with my best friends and my family,” she said. “It felt really good to know that we stand a chance and we just stayed confident the entire time that we know that we could win.”

Both teams battled back and forth in the second set before setter Delayni Baird and Basenbeck deposited a finish of their own before middle hitter Skylee Bailey put the second set away.

Back to the seniors and with the Lady Tigers trailing by one it was Rylee Harshaw with a pair of aces to give her team the lead. They would never trail for the rest of the match.

“They were being confident throughout,” Central Mountain coach Chipp McCann said. “They served a lot better than last year. I think last year after every time out I called they missed the next serve. They didn’t do that once today. Best of luck to them moving forward.”

Coming down the home stretch sophomore outside hitter Kynlee Budny made history registering her 500th career kill which put Hollidaysburg up at the time 22-19 as she recorded six for the night.

“It’s amazing,” Budny said of reaching the milestone. “My setters, my passers, everyone worked together as a team and it went really well tonight. I’m just so grateful for my team and my coaches.”

“She’s so bubbly and full of energy,” Stitt said. “500 kills is amazing, especially in our offense. We’re not just sending one person the ball over and over and over again. We spread the ball around. Being able to get 500 kills after your sophomore year in this program, then you got to be something special.”

Right-Side/Defensive Specialist Nora Stanek picked up an ace before sophomore middle hitter Lena Ransom hammered home the match point.

“Nora is freaking awesome, just one of those kids that whenever you tell her to do (something), she’s going to do it, no questions asked,” Stitt said. “Addi is an absolute battler, same with Rylee, just gamers. They want the ball when the game is on the line. They know this is their moment.”

“Definitely a good feeling after having the gut wrench of the last two years,” Stitt said. “(I) definitely feel for Central Mountain. They have a ton of great players, they haven’t lost many sets all year.”

Hollidaysburg will now host the WPIAL runner-up between Oakland Catholic and Beaver on Tuesday in the First Round of the PIAA Playoffs. The WPIAL Championship is scheduled for Saturday.

Records: Hollidaysburg (21-2), Central Mountain (14-2).

Referees: Clark Adelman, Chad Oberholtzer. Lines: Matt Johnson, Caryn Walls.