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CLEARFIELD -- The Warren girls volleyball team kept its 2026 season alive Thursday as they defeated the District 9 champion Clearfield Bison in a five-set thriller.
Having to travel almost two hours into District 9 territory, the Dragons battled all night long en route to a 26-28, 25-16, 20-25, 25-20, 15-8 win, clinching another berth in the PIAA state playoffs.
"It was another gut check for the team," Warren head coach Mike Dolan said, "but they once again showed their mental toughness."
The first four sets were as back and forth as it can get. The two evenly matched teams exchanged blow after blow until there had to be a winner.
Notched at 3-3 in the fifth set, the Dragons seemed to find another gear, a sort of motivation where they decided they did not want their season to end. A 9-0 run from Warren put the visitors up 12-4, with plenty of insurance to spare. A Hailey Cabisca kill would allow the Dragons, now up 14-8, five chances for a state playoff berth. With Attie Corey at the service line, the Bison had a slight miscue on the return that enabled Cabisca to put the match away with a kill at the net.
"Brooke Sherry had a really nice game and came through with some huge serves in the fifth set," Dolan said. "Clearfield has some pretty dynamic outside hitters so we had to try to match them physically at the net and also respond after they would have a big kill."
Hailey Cabisca led the Dragons with 18 kills, seven digs and two blocks. Lara Pearson had 11 kills and seven digs; Brooke Sherry had eight kills, six aces and 15 digs; Brynn Norris contributed 56 assists, nine digs and five blocks; Attie Corey had 17 kills and four blocks; Julia Getner chipped in eight kills and two blocks; Paiden Johnson had four aces and nine digs; Malysia Sorensen turned in 22 digs; and Addison Ristau had eight digs.
"Julia Getner fought hard for her eight kills and a couple of great blocks. Brynn also had a big night blocking their outside and also has a massive number of assists running our offense," Dolan said. "Malysia -- the newly crowned all-time program digs leader -- was all over the court, covering our hitters, making digs, great saves, and passing dimes in serve receive."
With the win, the Dragons earned their fourth PIAA appearance under Dolan, and will face the No. 1 seed out of the WPIAL (District 7) at a time and place yet to be determined.
"Once again we showed the resilience that has allowed us to win so many matches this year," Dolan said, "and we'll need it again when we face our next opponent on the road in the PIAA tournament Wednesday."