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North Penn 3, Central Bucks West 1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 25-18)
North Penn’s Chris Davidson and Andy Willits spent the better part of Thursday’s match exchanging best shots at the net with West’s Colin Baxter, Mike Fehrs and Christian Rupert, but talk to North Penn coach Kevin Eck, and he doesn’t think Thursday’s match was won at the net.
“We have hitters that are very strong, we’re a good passing team, and we have a good setter, but today the way our defense played – we were digging balls, and they were right where they needed to be,” Eck said. “I could see in their faces that their confidence level is coming up.
“They’re aggressively digging after balls, and it was nice to see them really come into that today. That was huge for us.”
Chris Davidson – who had 17 kills to lead the attack – also had a team-high 14 digs to go along with three aces. Defensive libero Mark Kim had six digs.
“We try to get behind the blocks, and we just look at the ball – whenever it comes, we go for it, no matter what, so we don’t let the ball touch the ground,” Kim said.
The Knights’ strong defense led to some golden opportunities for the offense. Andy Willits, who limped off the court with an ankle injury in the fourth game, also had a huge night at the net, contributing 13 kills to go along with three aces. Jake Sisko and Evan Thompson each had five kills. Setter Matt Elias had 40 assists and also had five blocks.
After watching the Knights win game one 25-16, the Bucks regrouped in the second game. They led 14-12 after a Baxter kill, and it was still a two-point game (16-14) after a Rupert kill. Davidson answered with a kill for the Knights to make it a one-point game, and the two teams were deadlocked 16-16 after the Bucks were whistled for a double hit.
A Knight carry was followed by a Baxter block, and when a North Penn hit sailed out of play, the Bucks led 19-16. Baxter delivered a kill out of a Knight timeout to put the Bucks on top 20-16, and that lead grew to five points after a Baxter tip fell in for a winner. The Knights pulled to within two after an Evan Thompson block, but the Bucks closed it out with a 4-0 run that included a Baxter kill and three North Penn miscues.
“In the second game, it seemed like they were tipping more, so we couldn’t get to the ball,” Kim said. “After that, we got our blocks up, and we got to the ball.
“Sometimes it’s difficult because there’s no block, but whenever the block is up and they tip it, we can get the ball easily.”
In game three, the Knights opened up a quick 7-2 lead, and after the Bucks cut that lead to three (8-5), Elias delivered a perfectly-timed block at the net that sparked a 4-1 Knight run. Included in that run were several big plays by Elias – a dump for a kill and another block.
Baxter broke the run with a kill, but Willits answered for the Knights, who led 19-12 after another Willits kill. The Bucks never threatened as the Knights rolled to the win.
In game four, the Knights led 4-1 after a Willits service winner. The Bucks made it a one-point game, but Thompson delivered a winner out of the middle, and when Davidson delivered a big kill, the Knights led 8-4. They upped that lead to 10-5 after another Willits kill and then led 16-6 after a West miscue. The Bucks pulled to within four on several occasions late in the game but never could get over the hump. The Knights won it when Thompson delivered a block in the middle for match point.
“I feel like we have a better team these days,” Kim said. “We have been playing very well because our chemistry is really good. After the Christopher Dock Tournament (a second place finish for the Knights), we have gotten better.”
While the Bucks fell to 6-6 in league play, the Knights are 9-2.
“I just told these guys – the times when we haven’t played well have been of our own doing, and we allow teams to take runs on us,” Eck said. “We are working on shutting that off when it happens and minimizing those error runs. That’s what we’ve been working on. I believe in my heart they have an opportunity to go as far as they want to if we get Andy back.
“These (West) guys are scrappers. Their record doesn’t reflect how good they are.”
Upper Dublin 3, Cheltenham 0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-19)
The Flying Cardinals picked up their second win of the season when they swept the Panthers on their home court on Thursday.
“Today we played as a team and were consistent in all phases of the game,” coach Matt Ehlers said. “We served the ball more effectively, which led to more free balls for us and more opportunities to score.
“The first game was close for the majority of the game, and we were able to pull away at the end with some strong serves from Dror Bareket, which led to four points toward the end of the game and gave us the separation to win the game.”
In game two, the Flying Cardinals raced to an 8-2 lead only to watch the Panthers rally to go on top 17-10 after a well-timed timeout.
“Our boys really came together and fought to come back and win that game in overtime,” Ehlers said. “In the final game, we led for the majority of the game, and although Cheltenham never quit and continued to fight, we were able to serve for points and hold the lead for the win.”
Bareket had eight service points and four aces. Curtis Carter served for seven points, which included two aces, and Jordan Walden served for six points with two aces. Jake Gibbons served for four points and one ace.
Setter Dave An had 27 assists and spread the ball effectively. Junior setter Brian Shim played the third game and contributed nine assists.
Walden led the Flying Cardinals at the net with 15 kills. Bareket added 10 kills and Carter and Brian Day each had seven kills out of the middle.
“All of our hitters had additional hits that were well placed and led to points either from errors or by free ball second chance opportunities,” Ehlers said.
Carter contributed five blocks out of the middle while Day had three.
Junior opposite Jino Park led the team with 11 digs.
“Everyone was moving their feet well and helped in the passing game,” Ehlers said. “We got consistent play off the bench today.
“Juniors Will Gallagher, Jake Gibbons and Chris Yang were able to see some playing time and were effective for us.”
Pennsbury 3, Abington 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-13)
Jim Zaluski had nine kills, four digs and five blocks, and teammate Dalton Zimmerman had seven kills, one dig and three blocks to lead the Falcons. Nate Hall had five kills, one dig and six blocks. Setter Pat Merrick had 27 assists to go along with two digs and three blocks.
William Tennent 3, Bensalem 1 (25-10, 21-25, 25-16, 25-20)
Kenny Rauchut and Logan Cloak had huge nights at the net, contributing 21 and 16 kills respectively. Zac Puglisi had 10 digs to lead the defense, and setter Mike Excell had 42 assists.
Quakertown 3, Central Bucks South (25-19, 25-16, 25-16)
Zach Morgan had 12 kills, three aces and five digs to lead the Panthers while Ian Jones had seven kills, three aces and five digs. Ryan Mease added six kills, five digs and one ace. Spencer Gysi had three kills, six digs and two aces. Setter Nate Stout had 24 assists.
With the win, the Panthers evened their league and overall record to 6-6.
Pennridge 3, Central Bucks East 0 (25-17-, 25-11, 25-23) (Wednesday, April, 27)
Ram setter Matt Trumbower was credited with 31 assists, and senior defensive libero Jake Braun had 16 digs to lead the Rams defensively. At the net, Derek Kemmerer and Kalin Nelson both contributed six kills. Kemmerer also had three aces while Nelson had a pair. Erik Moyer had five kills and two aces. Mike Shenk and Ryan Chinnici also had five kills each.
For the Patriots, setter Kyle Dolf had 11 assists and nine digs. Nick Bennett had five kills, 12 digs and two blocks.
Pennridge (11-0) will face Upper Dublin on Friday.
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