Pennsbury, CB West & Upper Dublin notched wins in Tuesday’s District 1 Tournament action. Pennsbury/Methacton photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography, and CB West/Downingtown East photos courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back for photo galleries.
Playback games
CLASS 6A
#2 PENNSBURY 3, #14 METHACTON 0 (26-24, 25-14, 25-15)
For a while, it looked as though it could be a long night for the Falcons. No, they weren’t in jeopardy of losing the match, but early signs were suggested this was going to be a struggle.
In set one, the Warriors led 24-22 and were just one point away from stealing the set after a Falcon serve into the net, but senior Madara Bungs delivered back-to-back kills to even the score, and then it was Kaitlyn Mishler slamming down a kill, setting the stage for a Methacton net serve for match point.
But the win was anything but easy.
“Coach Knappy (Anthony Knapp) tracks our offense, and he came over and said, ‘We’re setting the play more
than the cut,’ and I was like, ‘We’ve gotta change that,’” Pennsbury coach Rob Burns said. “So, I had a conversation with our setter. I was like, ‘Their block is not going to stop our outsides. You need to set our outsides heavy,’ and that’s what we did.
“So, that was a major change on the score discrepancy from the first set, and we actually served in because Saturday we had 22 service errors. That’s why Downingtown West beat us.”
The Falcons owned the second and third sets, opening up an 11-3 lead in set two after a Bungs kill, and after the Warriors pulled to within 13-8, a kill by Violet Rowbotham sparked a 6-1 run that included a pair of service winners by Kaitlyn Mishler, giving the Falcons a 19-9 lead.
Bungs capped a three-point service run by Jedynak with a kill for game-winner.
“What we saw tonight is typically what we do,” Burns said. “We serve really tough at the line, and then our offense can be very potent. We still have some things we’ve got to fix.”
The third set was more of the same, opening with a Reagan Perate kill and culminating with a Bungs’ winner for match point.
Bungs played a prominent role at Tuesday’s win delivering vicious kills and changing things up with a variety of winners that kept the Warriors guessing.
“I had a hard swing, and they got under it,” Bungs said. “That’s why I like mixing it up. I like keeping them not in one position. They don’t know what’s coming next.
“A little bit is based on whatever the pass and the set are like.”
Jedynak – who was recognized for surpassing the 100-ace mark for a standout career – was a key to the Falcons’ strong service game.
“I feel like there’s always going to be ups and downs in a game, so I think for us, it was our serving that game,” Jedynak said of the team’s improved play in Tuesday’s match.
By the numbers: (Stats will be added when received)
Senior Madara Bungs:
–The quarterfinal loss: “On Saturday, I think both teams did not play their best volleyball. Both teams had around 20 errors for serving, and both of us passed a 1.5, which is not good. Our passing is normally around a two, and that’s where we like to keep it.
“They were also not passing great, so I think it was just kind of a slugfest fight all the way through, and we just didn’t come out how we wanted to.”
–Tuesday’s must-win: “Obviously, we had to win this to go to states, and as a team, I think this win was definitely hard. The first set was a lot of just going into the huddle and being like, ‘It’s okay, keep moving, keep pushing. We got it, next point,’ and a lot of relying on each other to make it through. In the second and third sets – that’s what we want to see because Saturday was not how we want to play.”
Up next: Pennsbury will host #4 Central Bucks West in a playback match for seeding purposes on Thursday.
#4 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, #8 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 2 (25-18, 25-23, 17-25, 23-25, 15-8)
In the end, it came down to one winner-take-all set, and the Bucks – after winning the first two and losing the next two – were not going to lose. 
And they didn’t.
Kya Lynch made sure of that, delivering 11 of her game-high 39 kills in the 15-point set as the Bucks rolled to the win and made history, earning a coveted berth to the PIAA 6A State Tournament.
“We had never gone to states in West history, so this is a pretty exciting moment for us,” senior captain Kya Lynch said. “Since the beginning of the season, I think we realized the potential we had and the talent we had on our team, and it’s been a goal of mine and I think the rest of the team to try and make it as far as we can and also try to get to states.
“I’m really proud of the accomplishment that we’ve made. We’ve worked really hard trying to work towards that goal, so I’m really thrilled about it.”
Tuesday’s match – a must-win if the Bucks wanted the season to continue – came on the heels of a 3-1 loss to Boyertown in the district quarterfinals.
“Losing that game made us work harder at practice the next couple of days, and we really needed to work on everything,” Lynch said. “It’s fun to play good teams because you can learn so much from those games.
“This is such a rewarding feeling. I was looking back at all the games, and we were not as good. We still have 
the same core of people as last year, but we have improved so much. It’s crazy.”
By the numbers: Central Bucks West: Kya Lynch (39 kills, 3 aces, 4 blocks, 15 digs), Bryn Campbell (6 kills, 3 digs), Katina Adelizzi (3 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace), Farrah Nerhbas (2 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs), Keeley Fialkowski (2 kills, 3 blocks), Charley Brexler (4 aces, 13 digs), Ashlyn Kear (2 aces, 18 digs, 2 assists), Emma Shank (47 assists, 1 ace, 5 digs), Ella Rafalowski (3 aces, 8 digs)
Central Bucks West senior Kya Lynch:
–The match: “We just struggled and made a lot of unforced errors in the third and fourth sets. I feel like we could have controlled a lot more, but even after we lost the third (and fourth sets), we had a mentality that we could win. We knew we were capable of beating them, and we got really hyped up as a team – this was such a great opportunity for our team, so we just had the mindset that we’re going to fight our hardest to try and win this game.”
Up next: Central Bucks West will travel to Pennsbury on Thursday for a playback match for seeding purposes with the winner earning the fifth seed.
District 1 5A
Semifinal
#6 UPPER DUBLIN 3, #2 WC RUSTIN 2 (22-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-21, 16-14)
With a spot in states assured after last week’s win over Unionville in the quarterfinals, the Flying Cardinals found themselves facing second-seeded Rustin for a chance to play for a district crown.
It took five sets, but they came out victorious and will – for the first time in program history – be playing for a district title.
Leading UD’s attack at the net was freshman Kate DiMartile with 20 kills to go along with 22 digs. Also contributing double-digit kills were senior Isabelle Driehuis (14 kills) and Casey Calvano (13 kills). Nori Stokes had seven blocks to lead the Cards. Alice Zeng’s 29 digs led the defense. Setters Eva Hutchman and Parker Lavin combined to contribute 44 assists.
By the numbers: Upper Dublin: Senior – Alisa Zeng: 2 assists, 29 digs; Senior – Isabelle Driehuis: 14 kills, 3 digs, 3 blocks; Junior – Casey Calvano: 13 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs; Sophomore – Nori Stokes: 7 blocks; Sophomore – Parker Levin: 26 assists, 7 digs; Freshmen – Eva Hutchman: 1 kill, 18 assists, 3 blocks; Freshmen – Kate DiMartile: 20 kills, 22 digs, 1 block.
Up next: Upper Dublin will face top-seeded Gwynedd Mercy in the District 1 5A title game at Harriton High School (5pm).
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