In all three instances, the Golden Tigers hit that second gear at the most crucial moment. They were able to respond anytime Central Mountain found a semblance of late momentum, rattling off three set-sealing runs, winning three separate battles and ultimately, winning the war to avenge last year’s title loss, 3-0, behind set wins of 25-22, 25-19 and 25-22.

Nonetheless, the Wildcats fought until the last point, with their heart never once dipping below 100-percent even as their chances steadily became less and less likely. Fans on both sides were treated to a competitive, albeit abrupt-ending battle, likely the most intense sweep many of them have witnessed.

“Hollidaysburg was better than we were tonight. We didn’t bring our best game, but the heart was there,” said Central Mountain head coach Chipp McCann on the performance. “You could see the determination in the girls, and I told them after the game, ‘Not every night’s gonna be your best night.’ Hopefully they can learn from it moving forward.”

After taking a 1-0 lead to start, Central Mountain wouldn’t lead the first set again, and two service points from Gabby Beaubrun to tie it 4-4 would be the last service points they’d see for quite some time. The Golden Tigers would up their lead to four at 9-5 and to a high point of six at 20-14, five points away from a relatively seamless tone setter.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Sophia Hardy (26) celebrates a point with her teammates during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

However, the Wildcats would fire back to make it interesting. A Kylie Rauch kill set up by Reese Walizer kicked off a 4-0 run that forced Hollidaysburg to use a late timeout. Then, a Beaubrun kill and three straight service points from Lilly Downing tied it up at 22-22, capping an 8-2 run for Central Mountain.

Ultimately, two kills from Hollidaysburg’s Addi Basenback and another from Nora Stanek – both seniors – were crucial in the Golden Tigers edging out the set, 25-22. But the Wildcats showed they could hang after struggling to string much together early, a theme of the night’s affair.

“I think that showed that we still have that heart in us, and everybody wants to win,” said Beaubrun when discussing the night’s ups and downs. “We just need to learn to sharpen up and focus when under pressure, and I think that’s our biggest downfall.”

Those ups and downs continued through the second. In a back-and-forth start to the stanza, Central Mountain took an early 2-1 lead and put together a 4-0 run behind three Downing service points to go up 10-8. But that momentum quickly fizzled out, as the Golden Tigers responded with a 5-0 run to go back up by three.

They forced a Central Mountain timeout, then continued to pour it on out of it. And after building that lead up to 19-14, they simply maintained the back-and-forth on their way to a 2-0 lead. Multiple Wildcat kill attempts fell out of bounds, and they couldn’t make the most of back-to-back service errors from Hollidaysburg.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Allison Koch (14) reaches for a return during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit. Our passing wasn’t really on point and Hollidaysburg served the ball well,” said McCann, referencing 13 aces from the Golden Tigers. “Hollidaysburg was better than we were.”

The third set was much of the same.

Central Mountain took the early advantage in the initial back-and-forth, with kills from Beaubrun, Rauch and Sofia Kelley getting it out to a 4-3 lead. Three service points from Beaubrun coupled with a kill from Alana Ingram gave it the lead back at 10-9. And big lays from Beaubrun, Kelley and Downing got that lead up as high as 15-12.

But just as the Wildcats were finding their groove again, Hollidaysburg punched them in the mouth. Lena Ransom posted a block, and Rylee Harshaw posted three straight service points, two by way of ace, giving the Golden Tigers a 16-15 lead they’d never see turn the other way again.

“I thought we were all playing really well, really cohesively. It was a great match for all of us. But once they have their energy going, it’s hard to shut them down,” said Rauch on Hollidaysburg. “It’s tough to lose like that, but they’re a really good team. I hope they go far.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Gabby Beaubrun (11) performs a kill during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

It’s a tough way for a storied chapter of Central Mountain volleyball to end, one defined by a seasoned senior class that helped the program earn its first ever district title, make it to back-to-back district finals and dominate the Heartland-I. The seniors left it all out on the line on Thursday night, not thinking twice when diving for tough balls and scoring numerous tough points.

“It’s been really special. First district title for our school last year with these kids, with this group of girls,” said Rauch on her time as a Wildcat. “Not to brag but I think it’s pretty cool to be that good and be that history-making team for our school.”

“It was amazing, honestly,” emphasized Beaubrun. “We had a really special team, and we have really special girls. I think that next year, Central Mountain will do what they need to do.

Beaubrun finished with a team-leading 14 kills and three aces, giving the Wildcats a consistent spark to keep them within striking distance. Downing led the team in service points (7) while also posting five kills, three aces and three blocks. Reese Walizer and Sophia Hardy were crucial on multiple diving digs and combined for 15 assists. And Kylie Rauch added six kills, many coming when they were needed most.

“My seniors are just awesome, and I’m really proud of them,” said McCann on the class. “They understood the situations they were in and tried to stay there. They really did a lot for the program, and we’re really going to miss them.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Gabby Beaubrun (11), Lilly Downing (21) and Chloe Confer (3) celebrate a point during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

Though those departures sting, its returners should make up a strong foundation to build around, coupled with the development of the junior high program.

Juniors Chloe Confer and Allison Koch each left their impact on Wednesday’s game, with Confer posting a team-leading 14 assists and Koch posting three service points. Sophomore Alana Ingram led the team in blocks (four) attributed two assists and provided a brief kickstart with a kill in the team’s last hoorah. Freshman Sofia Kelley also had five kills, four coming in the third, and has showed tremendous promise as a first-year.

“The future looks bright,” said McCann. “I don’t know what next year looks like, but we have some key players back and a lot of young girls coming up. Our middle school program is really starting to thrive.”

For now, they’ll celebrate what they’ve been able to accomplish so far before turning their focus to building back up towards another championship run.

DISTRICT 6 CLASS AAA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Reese Walizer (16) dives for a ball during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

Hollidaysburg 3, Central Mountain 0

(25-22, 25-19, 25-22)

Central Mountain points: Lilly Downing 7, Gabby Beaubrun 5, Allison Koch 3, Chloe Confer 3, Sophia Hardy 1, Reese Walizer 1, Kylie Rauch 1. Central Mountain kills: Gabby Beaubrun 14, Kylie Rauch 6, Lilly Downing 5, Sofia Kelley 5, Sophia Hardy 1, Alana Ingram 1. Central Mountain assists: Chloe Confer 14, Sophia Hardy 10, Reese Walizer 5, Alana Ingram 2. Central Mountain aces: Gabby Beaubrun 3, Lilly Downing 3, Chloe Confer 1, Allison Koch 1. Central Mountain blocks: Alana Ingram 4, Lilly Downing 3, Gabby Beaubrun 1, Kylie Rauch 1, Sophia Hardy 1.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Lilly Downing (21) performs a kill during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Sophia Hardy (26) reaches for a return during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Sofia Kelley (24) performs a kill during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain celebrates a point during the District 6 Class AAA volleyball championship against Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Bald Eagle Area. The Wildcats fell 3-0.