Tradition is a powerful thing and something that teams take pride in. It's also something that pushes players to maintain, which will be the challenge for the Norwin boys volleyball team this season.

The Knights have advanced to the WPIAL final four in four of the last five seasons and qualified for the state playoffs three times in the last four years.

They've established themselves as a WPIAL powerhouse with a reputation of aggressive offense and fundamental defense.

"We have experience, and we will have some new players on the court, but we will expect to compete with anybody," coach Al Warden said.

Norwin graduated two of the top players in school history last season in All-WPIAL middle hitter Garret McNamara and All-State setter Tyler Warden, as well as Jason Turner.

The Knights do return several players who logged significant varsity time last year during a 15-3 season that included an 11-1 section mark and co-section championship. They lost to Hempfield in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

Leading the returning group are All-Section outside hitters Matt Ferragoino, a senior, and Cody Schropp, a junior, as well as All-Section senior libero Mike Schmidt.

"So far, my two outsides, Matt and Cody, look to be very good offensively. They both could be in the top five as outside hitters in the WPIAL," Warden said. "Matt hits high, and Cody jumps as well as any player I have seen come through Norwin.

"Mike Schmidt does all the dirty work for us as a libero, passing and playing tough defense."

Junior Bryan Guzewicz is taking over at setter this season and was named a captain, along with Ferragoino and Schmidt.

He'll try to find returning senior right side hitter Tyler Rupert, as well as returning middle hitter Alex Dennison, a junior.

"Alex Dennison looks very strong in the gym for a player who has not touched a volleyball since last season, and we are expecting him to take over as our blocking leader," the coach said of the Norwin football quarterback.

Sophomores Matt George, Ian Mikrut and Seth Austin also are competing for the other middle hitter position and are pushing each other and working together to make that position stronger, Warden said.

Three other seniors also will play roles this season -- Ed Soboslay (middle blocker), Kevin Springer (utility) and Nick Fallone (setter). In addition, junior Steve Schmidt will see playing time as a defensive specialist.

Norwin again will compete in Section 3 with Gateway, Hempfield, Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford, Plum and Woodland Hills.

"I think Penn Hills is the team to beat as they made it to the WPIAL final four last year as the third place team out of our section and return all of their starters," Warden said. "Plum, Penn-Trafford and Hempfield will be very solid teams and will compete for the section."

Norwin will open the season Saturday in its host tournament, which begins with pool play at 9 a.m. The playoff round should start around 4 p.m. The field includes Norwin, Bethel Park, Butler, Baldwin, Deer Lakes, Penn-Trafford, South Park, Thomas Jefferson, Schenley, Elderton, Latrobe and Hempfield.

Norwin will open the season on Tuesday against Woodland Hills, at 7:30 p.m.