The Northgate High School girls' volleyball team ended a 16-year drought last year by qualifying for the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

This year, the Flames are making a return trip to the playoffs, but with a new coach.

"Sam Donini handed the reins to me," said Stephanie Francis, referring to Northgate's former coach, who stepped down after 13 years with the program, including 10 as head coach. "I was Sam's assistant the previous four years."

Northgate entered last night's regular-season finale at North Catholic with a 9-2 record in Section 2-A, which guarantees the Flames a second consecutive WPIAL playoff berth.

"The transition from assistant to head coach was very easy because I was familiar with the program," said Francis, a seventh grade English teacher at Northgate Middle School. "Sam let me incorporate some of my ideas into the program, so the girls were very receptive to what I wanted to do."

Volleyball has played a significant part in Francis' life.

"I was a three-year starter at Waterford High School [in Ohio] and a four-year starter at Geneva College," said Francis, who played middle hitter. "I also coached the Ambridge boys in 1997 and '98, the Blackhawk girls in 2000, plus a Junior Olympics team for eight years.

Francis has been joined by a former player.

"My assistant is Katie Greco," Francis said. "Katie played for me when I was at Blackhawk. She also played Junior Olympics for me."

Northgate lost to North Catholic and Brentwood during the regular season. North Catholic entered last night's match with an 11-0 record, while Brentwood was 8-3. All three qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, which are scheduled to begin Tuesday.

"My goal was to lead Northgate to its first outright section title," Francis said. "Last year's playoff berth was only the second in school history. The 1991 squad tied for a section title."

Francis' hopes of winning an outright section title took a huge hit in the Flames' opener, as they dropped a 3-0 decision to Brentwood.

"Our best player missed two weeks of practice and the first week of the regular season with a stress refraction of her ankle," said Francis, referring to 6-foot senior middle hitter Erica Benny. "I had never heard of that term. Fortunately, it wasn't a stress fracture or she would have been out for the season.

"Erica is a four-year letter-winner and three-year starter who was voted a third-team WPIAL All-Star [in Class A] last year. She missed our first two matches."

Benny is one of four senior starters. The others are 5-7 outside hitter Amanda Filay, 5-4 setter Karianne Hoover and 5-7 outside hitter Amber Sharlow.

"Amanda and Amber are our two best passers," Francis said. "Amanda is a three-year starter, while Amber and Karianne are two-year starters."

Sharlow's younger sister, Amanda, a 5-9 junior right-side hitter, was also a returning starter, but her season came to an end almost before it started.

"Amanda [Sharlow] split time at middle and right-side hitter last year," Francis said. "We found what looked to be a bruise on her knee before our first match. She played with a brace, but couldn't walk the next day. We eventually found out it was a benign tumor.

"She had it removed a couple weeks ago and should be able to come back next year. She still comes to every practice and helps out whatever way she can."

Francis uses a nine-player rotation that also includes 5-11 junior middle hitter Jade Young, 5-6 junior back-row specialist Sarah Dunn, 5-7 sophomore defensive specialist Leah Dunn, 5-7 freshman libero Rachel Dombrowski and 5-6 freshman right-side hitter Erika Hill.

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