Pennridge and Council Rock North advanced to Thursday’s District One final. To view photos of the CR North/William Tennent and Pennridge/NP matches, please visit the Photo Gallery.
North Penn gave top-seeded Pennridge all it could handle, but the Rams eked out a 3-2 win while Council Rock North rebounded from a decisive loss in the opening game to defeat archrival William Tennent in four sets.
Pennridge and CR North will square off in Thursday’s title match at Upper Dublin High School (7:30 p.m.) while Tennent and North Penn will battle for the third and final state berth (6 p.m.).
#2 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, #3 WILLIAM TENNENT 1 (12-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-19)
To view photos of the match, please click on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/g/051915_cr_north_vs_wm_tennent_dl
The Panthers – with a pair of five-set wins over the Indians during the regular season already on their resume – had the upper hand in the opening set of Tuesday night’s district semifinal, but they didn’t have a whole lot to cheer about the rest of the night as the Indians rebounded from that resounding defeat to win the next three sets.
“That first game was real rough,” junior Will Stollsteimer said. “We knew if we wanted to win this game and get into states, get into the finals – we had to come out a lot harder than what we did.
“We all knew we wanted it, we all came out as hard as we could, and it changed the course of the game.”
Did it ever.
In the second set, the Indians opened up an early lead and still led 12-10 after a Will Desautelle block. A Josh Hinton kill made it a 16-13 game. The Panthers pulled to within one (22-21), but a serve out of play allowed the Indians to go on top 23-21. That trend continued. Jake Milnazik’s line kill made it a one-point game, but out of a timeout, the Indians regained a two-point lead. A Milnazik tip pulled the Panthers to within one, but Hinton closed out the set with a crosscourt kill.
“We talked to our guys about being patient,” Rock North coach Greg Marchetti said of his team’s response after falling in the first set. “I expected them to come out with a little more intensity, but it’s a new gym. They haven’t been in this place before.
“We’re starting five underclassmen. The last time we were in a district final was 2011. These kids were in middle school, so they haven’t been here as a jayvee player or a fan. The environment dictates a lot how you start a game. I think we responded really well though.”
In the third set, the Indians once again opened up an early lead, and the Panthers could not close the gap, falling 25-17. Stollsteimer put an exclamation point on the big win with an ace for set point, igniting the Rock North faithful.
“The emotion is a huge factor,” Stollsteimer said. “The first game we were down, we were quiet, and we had a big letdown.
“Coming back the second, third and fourth games, we had a lot more emotion, and it helped us grind it out.”
The fourth set featured one tie after another. A Milnazik kill gave the Panthers a 13-12 lead. It turned out to be their final lead. Desautelle slammed down a kill to knot the score, and the Indians never looked back rolling to the 25-19 win with Jason Yakimiv delivering a kill out of the middle for match point.
“Early in the game, we usually start with a lot of emotion,” Marchetti said. “The first two times we played Tennent, we talked about not trying to peak too early, trying to build our emotion as the match progresses because we need that emotion when it comes down to crunch time at the end.
“Our guys came out a little bit flat. They were a little bit nervous. Give Tennent all the credit in the world – they came out ready to play. Then I think we settled in, nerves settled down, and we got back to basics. I don’t think we still played a great volleyball match, but we did enough in certain situations to win.”
The win not only guaranteed the Indians a spot in Thursday’s district final against Pennridge but also ensured them a coveted berth in states.
“It’s huge,” Stollsteimer said. “It’s been a while since we’ve been there, and it’s a whole new group of guys. It’s just nice to be back.
“We played them tough the first two times, and they came out on top. We knew what we had to do. Sometimes the tides just go your way. They’re a great team, but we fought them hard, and we did well.”
Marchetti called Tuesday’s win a program victory.
“We talk about it all the time – it’s not just the guys on the court,” the Indians’ coach said. “It’s everyone on the team, it’s the jayvee team, it’s the coaches, it’s the fans, it’s a program victory.
“You see a lot of times the teams that are successful at this level – the programs are what usually matter.”
Hinton led the Indians with 11 kills, 11 digs, one block and one assist. Stollsteimer had eight kills, two blocks, two digs and one ace. Nick Reich had five kills, one ace and one dig, and Desautelle had five kills, two aces, two digs and one block. Eric Van Thuyne had 10 digs and two assists.
Also for the Indians, Dalton Abrahamsen contributed 11 assists, two digs, one block and one kill. Logan Fulgestad had 14 assists and six digs while Yakimiv had two kills, two digs and one block. Sean Lyon (two kills, one block), Aaron Knotts (two digs) and Alex Sarceno (one dig) also contributed.
#1 PENNRIDGE 3, #5 NORTH PENN 2 (24-26, 25-15, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10)
To view photos of the match, please click on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/g/051915_pennridge_vs_north_penn_dl
Henry Savage didn’t pause, didn’t hesitate for a second when asked if perhaps the fact that his Pennridge team swept North Penn twice during the regular season had an impact on the Rams’ mindset entering Tuesday’s semifinal match.
“I wouldn’t want to say it did, but it definitely did,” the Rams’ senior middle hitter said. “A couple of us guys were definitely going in not as focused as we should be, a little lackadaisical.
“It took us until the third game to start competing very well.”
By that time, a fired-up Knight squad had a 2-1 lead, and the Rams had their backs firmly against the wall.
“I thought we were going to come out a lot harder than we did, a lot faster, which is what we should have done,” Savage said. “They were scrappy as anything. They just played a great game against us. They were really trying to fight for that win.”
The Rams brought a 17-0 record into Tuesday’s match, and in only four of those matches were they extended to four games. None had gone to five.
The Knights broke that string with an inspired performance.
“We’re happy with the effort tonight, without a doubt,” coach Tim Moyer said. “We’re just loaded with seniors again. I have four in the starting lineup
“I have Mark (Elias) who’s a three-year captain, so they’re hungry for it. This is their last shot at it. They’ve been working hard.”
The Knights brought a 13-3 record into Tuesday’s match – two of those losses were at the hands of Pennridge.
“We knew what we were facing here,” Moyer said. “They made a conscious effort to attack what they thought were the weak points.
“Pennridge’s offense is just ridiculous to keep up with. We did a pretty good job of neutralizing it to some degree. I thought we were pretty organized defensively. We made a ton of plays down the line. The effort on our side was awesome. They just had more firepower. That’s all there is to it. You’re talking about a team that’s a perennial state contender. I couldn’t be much happier with the way we competed tonight, for sure.”
The Knights served early notice that they meant business, fending off every Ram comeback in the opening set to eke out a 26-24 win with Connor Sloan delivering a block for set point.
“I thought we came out kind of slow and sloppy, and they earned points,” Pennridge coach Dave Childs said. “You have to give them credit – they played great.
“They hit well, and they played really good defense. We didn’t match that right away.
“They worked through it, shook things off when they needed to and came up with the plays when we needed to.”
The two teams exchanged wins with the Rams rolling to a 25-15 win in the second set only to watch the Knights rebound to earn a 25-22 win to go on top 2-1.
“Honestly, we looked at each other and asked, ‘What’s going on here?’” Savage said. “We definitely looked to our coach for guidance. He’s great (at giving) advice for the little small stuff that we’re missing.
“We really focus on picking up all that small stuff like blocking, positioning, serving, trying to fix up all the small stuff so we can be swinging hard and aggressive like we usually do.”
The Rams came out strong in the fourth set, opening up an 8-4 lead after an Aaron Nelson block. They still led 12-7 only to watch the Knights trim that lead to three after an Elias block. It was a two-point game (19-17) after a Pennridge hit out of bounds, but a Savage kill gave the Rams a three-point lead. A Ben Chinnici kill upped that lead to 21-17, and the Rams won it by that four-point margin on a net serve by the Knights.
Savage opened the pivotal fifth set with back-to-back kills, and after a service winner by Bradley Nase, the Rams led 3-0.
“In the fifth game when it’s to 15, you have to come right out of the gates, and thank god we did,” Savage said. “Once you get on a two, three-point run – I tried to rally the guys and keep that momentum going.”
The Knights pulled to within one (3-2) only to watch the Rams go on top 6-2. The Rams took a commanding 12-6 lead after back-to-back kills by Savage and Devon Rice. The Knights trailed by just two (12-10) after a Rams hit out of play, but a Savage kill was followed by a Rice tip for a winner as the Rams went on to earn the win.
“The problem with Pennridge is they have at least two or three options on every play, so while we’re making a conscious effort to shut one down, they have two more coming at you,” Moyer said. “If it’s not in the front row, it’s the back row.
“It’s next to impossible to stop them, but I thought we did a pretty good job of neutralizing it and giving them less options.”
Pennridge setter Bradley Nase had a busy night, handing out 45 assists. Rice was at the receiving end of many of those, finishing with 22 kills and 15 digs.
“He’s a beast – he is what he is, and I’m spoiled having players like that,” Childs said of Rice. “I haven’t seen one better.”
Chinnici added 17 kills and 15 digs while Savage also finished with double-digit kills, contributing 12 kills and six blocks.
“We needed that,” Childs said of Savage’s performance. “We needed someone to step up offensively and defensively.
“He came up with two big blocks in game five, but even before that, coming up with kills. He’s one of the most underrated players in our district. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves because sometimes the other guys on our team take the spotlight, but Henry – I think he’s the best middle out there.”
Also contributing for the Rams were Josiah Friesen (four kills), Aaron Nelson (two kills, four blocks), Jesse Smith (six digs, two aces) and Austin Rush (11 digs).
Elias had a big match for the Knights, finishing with 29 assists, five blocks, five kills and 17 digs. Sloan added 10 kills, 14 digs and three blocks while Jake Walters had 10 kills and two blocks. Tim Dickenson had 12 digs and six kills, and Steven Landes had four kills and two digs.
While the Knights will face Tennent in a third place game, the Rams (18-0) will take on Rock North in Thursday’s title game.
Childs was asked if Tuesday’s nail biter was a wake-up call his team needed to bring their ‘A’ game every time they step on the court.
“As long as they learned that lesson – yes,” he said. “It’s nice to say that in the huddle after the game and in practice tomorrow, but we have to come out and walk the walk.
“(Council Rock North) is a big, athletic team. They spread the ball around real well. They have hitters everywhere. It’s going to be a challenge. They’re definitely big, and we have to be sharp because they’re a good team.”
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