Following a storied run to the WPIAL semifinals, BP was prepared for a championship run in the PIAA tournament. However, Fox Chapel got in the way.

Jack Reese had 21 kills, and Fox Chapel beat BP, three sets to two, on May 30 at North Allegheny High School.

Fox Chapel won the first set, 25-23, after Jaysen Zaleski got the final two kills of the set. The next set, Fox Chapel won 25-18 following an 8-2 run to end the set.

But, BP came back with help from Jake Dixon.

Dixon had nine of his 36 kills in the third set, which BP won 25-23. He then continued his success into the fourth set, where he had 13 kills. BP won the set, 25-22.

“You’re in the first two games, and you let them go, and that third game you figure they’re going to fold,” BP coach Tom Allman said to the Tribune Review.

“[Dixon] was focused,” Allman said  to the Tribune Review. “I can always tell. I can look in his eyes and see what he’s going to do,  whether he’s going to be there or he’s not going to be there. He was there [and] ready to play today.”

The fifth and final set started close, as the teams were tied eight all. However, Fox Chapel went on a 7-1 run to win the set, 15-9, and match. Ben DePellegrini had the final two points for Fox Chapel.

Fox Chapel was by a trio of players. Max DePellegrini had 53 assists, while Reese also had seven blocks. Zaleski had 13 kills in the game.

“Jack Reese was phenomenal today. That was the best match he played,” Fox Chapel coach Phil O’Keeffe said to the Tribune Review. “Jaysen Zaleski also had a very good day, and Max [DePellegrini] got them the ball.”

“They had no answer for Reese,” O’Keeffe said to the Tribune Review. “It was good to see.”

Fox Chapel advances to the PIAA semifinals, where they will face Seneca Valley at a time and site to be determined. BP’s season is over.