Check out the results for SOL boys’ volleyball teams in action. To view photos of the Pennridge/CB West match, please visit the Photo Gallery.
PENNRIDGE 3, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1 (25-18, 25-13, 23-25, 25-13)
They come at you with one weapon after another.
One minute it’s sophomore Ben Chinnici slamming home a kill. The next it’s Devon Rice. Aaron Nelson closed out one set with a kill, and Henry Savage can finish in the middle of the net.
All those options make life easier for setter Bradley Nase.
“We have options at every position,” the Rams’ senior setter said. “We have great outside hitters, but the middle and weak side – I can set them the ball when it’s game point against us, and I’m confident they can get the kill.”
In Wednesday’s win, Rice (15 kills) and Chinnici (14 kills) led the Rams at the net. Rice also had nine digs and Chinnici, 11 digs. Those numbers were higher than usual for both since the Rams were minus a player because of illness. Savage and Nelson both added six kills. Savage also had six blocks and six digs.
“We probably have six or seven guys that could average 15 kills if we wanted to,” coach Dave Childs said. “Brad and Jesse (Smith) – whoever is in there, we can spread the ball around and not have to rely on one person, but then we have some big-time players if we need someone to step up and get a big kill for us.
“We have multiple guys who can do that. I feel like we’re really fortunate.”
The Bucks own back-to-back conference championships, and for a Rams squad ranked second in the state, capturing a title they owned prior to West’s ascent to the top is the first order of business.
“Our main goal is definitely to win our league,” Nase said. “After that districts and states. We’re just taking it step by step.”
On Wednesday night, the Rams took another step to regaining a conference title. They are the lone undefeated team in the Continental Conference.
“Definitely a goal is to win the league – we have a veteran team, so that’s what our goal should be, win the league and move on from there, but that’s got to be on our mind first,” Childs said.
The Rams won the first set 25-18. In the second set, it was an 8-8 game after a Pennridge serve sailed out of play, but back-to-back Rice kills ignited a 5-0 Ram run. They went on to earn the 25-13 win.
Any ideas the Rams would roll to a sweep were put to rest in the third set. The two teams were deadlocked 21-21, and it was the Bucks closing it out with a mini 4-2 run that was capped with a Cole Kaminski kill for set point.
The Rams seized early control of the third set and never looked back, and Rice put the finishing touches on a big night with a kill for match point.
Defensively, Jesse Smith led the Rams with 12 digs, and Max McVaugh added eight.
For the Bucks, libero Sam Winderman was all over the court, finishing with 19 digs. Daniel Klapper led the Bucks at the net with 13 kills. He also had 10 digs. Ryan Alu had nine kills and eight digs, and Will Varner added six kills and nine digs.
Childs credited the Bucks for playing tough defense, but the Rams had just too many weapons.
“It makes practices really competitive, and it pushes us all to be our best because you know the guy behind you is pushing just as hard to get a starting spot,” Nase said. “So it makes us all better.”
Pennridge, which is 5-0 this season, will travel to North Penn on Friday night.
WILLIAM TENNENT 3, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-21)
Jake Milnazik had 12 kills and Will Towle added 10 to lead the Panthers at the net. Towle also had 11 digs and Milnazik, three. Brendan Carter added five kills, and Logan Sklut had six digs. Noah Chast added four digs and an ace, and setter Kyle Lewicki had 31 assists to go along with two blocks.
For the Golden Hawks, Ross Sweed led the attack with 13 kills, and Sean Rodman’s 11-dig effort led the defense.
ABINGTON 3, BENSALEM 0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-17)
Setter Tim Seydel handed out 20 assists and also had two aces. Matt Penecale led a balanced attack with eight kills. Jay Bynum had five kills and two blocks. Jack Steinman had eight blocks. Libero Joe Wiley led the defense with seven digs to go along with three aces. Ben Razzi had three kills and three blocks, and Cole Santora added four kills. The Ghosts missed just four serves in their sweep of the Owls.
QUAKERTOWN 3, SOUDERTON 1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 25-16)
Dylan Flor (17 kills, two blocks, nine digs), Mike Dierolf (16 kills, 11 digs), Lucas Schan (11 kills, three blocks, two digs) and Coulton Terry (nine kills, two blocks) all had big nights at the net for the Panthers. Libero Nick Wesley led the defense with 11 digs, and setter Xavier Villanueva had 45 assists to go along with six digs and three aces.
“Quakertown has a nice squad with a very good setter and hitters,” Souderton coach Dave Stastny said. “They have a tall lineup and can put the ball away.
“The match was the best we played this year. We played with enthusiasm and effort for the whole match, but we were not able to come away with the win. Congrats to the Quakertown squad.”
Sam Hess led the Indians at the net with 13 kills. Derek DiCesare was the defensive leader with 17 digs while Jack Pagan and Luke Clemmer combined to hand out 40 assists.
“If we can stay at this level of play, we will be in every match going forward,” Stastny said.
The Panthers are 3-2 in conference play (5-2 overall).
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, NESHAMINY 0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-15)
Setter Logan Fuglestad had 18 assists and five digs while Dalton Abrahamsen had 12 assists and three digs. Will Stollsteimer was on the receiving end of some of those assists, finishing with 12 kills and eight digs. Josh Hinton added eight kills and six digs, and Jason Yakimiv had five kills, eight digs and two aces.
Defensively, Eric Van Thuyne had 12 digs to go along with one ace to lead the Indians. Will Desautelle had four kills and three digs, and Nick Reich added three kills. Sean Lyon had two kills while Sean Helmlinger and Tommy Angelina each had one. Helmlinger also had five digs. Aaron Knotts had three digs, and Robby Ward added two.
Rock North will travel to George Washington on Thursday for a 3:15 p.m. match.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
Chris Woolslayer led a balanced Patriot attack with nine kills while Eric Chmiel had six and Chris Dunn and Henry Mallison, five each. Chmiel also had three blocks. Defensively, Kyle Schmauk had a team-high five digs, and Jarred Minschwaner added three. Minschwaner and Mason Miller each had five service aces.
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