Injured Derek Piatek helping however he can for Mars boys volleyball
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Derek Piatek (22) celebrates with team member Kyler Robinson (4) after scoring in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Derek Piatek returns a serve to North Catholic in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Derek Piatek (22) celebrates with team member Kyler Robinson (4) after scoring in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Derek Piatek returns a serve to North Catholic in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s boys volleyball team defeated Mars 3-0 in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
CRANBERRY TWP — Derek Piatek has had a different perspective on the volleyball court the last two games — and a different role to go with it.
Normally an outside hitter for Mars’ boys team, the senior suffered a sprained right ankle three weeks ago and missed four games, returning earlier this week to play libero, mostly a defensive position, against Shaler. He was back there again Friday in a 3-0 loss at North Catholic.
The position switch took Piatek out of his comfort zone. He is used to causing havoc with opposing teams thanks to his powerful right arm, which helped Mars win its first district title last year. But his ankle is not yet ready to support jumping at the net.
“I broke the school record for kills early in the season, am up to about 600 now,” Piatek said. “I had never played libero before, tried to in practice a couple of times for my club team and my coach hated the idea.
Derek Piatek returns a serve to North Catholic in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
“Even with the injury, I believe I can still help the team and I want to be on the court.”
Mars coach Michael Nypaver said Piatek’s first run at his new position was shaky against Shaler.
“You could tell he was out of sorts a bit, but he played defense as an outside hitter with serve-receive and he reads the court very well.
“We don’t have a set libero, have been moving guys in and out this season.”
Piatek’s injury has had a ripple effect.
“With Derek out of the lineup, we needed someone on the outside, so we moved our setter (Kyler Robinson) out there,” Nypaver said. “He has played well, so he’s still playing at that position.”
Derek Piatek (22) celebrates with team member Kyler Robinson (4) after scoring in a volleyball game on Friday, May 2, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Piatek, a St. Francis (Pa.) University recruit, said the team’s execution has improved over the course of two games, but hopes to be back on the outside soon with the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs set to begin in mid-May. The Planets (7-8, 3-3) have already clinched a postseason berth.
“Hopefully, if we can get everybody back in position, we can make a run,” he said.
North Catholic (9-3, 6-2) is one spot ahead of the Planets in the Section 2 standings. The Trojans were led by senior outside hitter Drew Palmer, who tallied 15 kills Friday in the team’s 25-15, 25-11, 25-18 victory.
“Everything we do on offense goes through him,” North coach Rick Ward said of Palmer, a Northern Kentucky recruit.
