PITTSBURGH - Becca Kelley and Bre Kelley exchanged plenty of talk heading into the matchup between the Pitt and TCU women's volleyball teams Sunday at the State Farm Volleyball Showcase.

The two sisters from Rockwall, Texas, were opponents for the first time. Bre and the third-ranked Panthers came away with a four-set win over the Horned Frogs. TCU, which was ranked No. 25, entered the season ranked for the first time in program history.

"Honestly, it fun," Bre Kelley said. "But also intimidating. The smack talk leading up to the game was intense. I just knew with the work being done and the way we were blocking that I would do good against her."

Bre ended up blocking Becca three times during the match. Becca, who is 6-foot-3, knew hitting over her sister, who is 6-4 wouldn't be easy.

"Brie's a giant," Becca said. "She's really, really good at volleyball, so there was definitely some high pressure there, but also just a lot, a lot of excitement to like go out there and be a dragon. That's one of our main things as a team, is to play as dragons and so a couple of those balls, I was really going for her hands to hit really hard and so, I mean, it was a great battle. She got those three step blocks on me, but there's always another opportunity to play her deeper into the season, so I'm excited for that."

Bre and Becca Kelley earned up being like a lot of athletes during the current climate of college sports. Both went far from home to different colleges after their time in Rockwall, Texas. Each chose to migrate to other programs.

Becca went to Oregon and didn't appear in any matches. She chose to come close to home and play at Texas Christian University, which is 59 miles from her hometown. Bre chose to head southeast and play for Florida. Once Bre left the Gators, she migrated north to Pittsburgh, about 1,590 miles from home.

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo

The Pennsylvania girls volleyball season is underway and there will be plenty of WPIAL teams with high aspirations for this season. North Allegheny was voted the top team in the Class 4A preseason rankings, while Greensburg Central Catholic is the top-ranked team in Class A.

A pair of WPIAL teams, Mars and Beaver, were ranked second and third in the 3A preseason rankings, respectively. Quaker Valley was the only 2A squad to appear in the rankings, popping in at No. 9.

The WPIAL players selected as players to watch included: Ashlyn Black, Greensburg Central Catholic, right side; Julia Cernich, Avonworth, outside hitter; Kailyn Connelly, Beaver, middle hitter/outside hitter; Cecilia Christy, Mars, middle hitter; Molly Robertson, North Allegheny, outside hitter and Alex Knox, Peters Township, setter.

​Check out the PVCA's full rankings here.

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

The true test of the success of any program is what happens after a run of great players go through the program. The Shaler boys volleyball team were the PIAA Class 3A champions last season. The Titans lost more than 10 seniors from last year's team and are off to a 3-1 start this season.

While Shaler still has a long ways to go to prove it deserves a spot in the state rankings, there will be plenty of opportunities for the Titans to prove themselves. Shaler, the two-time defending WPIAL Class 3A champions, are in a section with Mars, which won the 2A crown last year.

​Read about the Titans journey thus far on SBLive.

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be sent to [email protected] or on X @J_oshrizzo.