Check out the results for SOL boys’ volleyball teams in action Thursday.
PENNSBURY 3, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2 (25-21, 25-23, 24-26, 23-25, 19-17)
The Falcons established themselves as the team to beat in the tough SOL National Conference with a 3-2 win over the Indians in yet another classic battle between the neighboring rivals.
"We knew coming into this season we felt we had a shot against anyone in the league," said coach Justin Fee, who returned his entire team except for his opposite. "We changed the offense up a little bit to go with a 6-2 offense to cover up the fact that I don't think there's anyone on our team right now that is ready to hit the ball out of the back row as often as we ask our opposites traditionally.
"I think that's helped make up for the fact that we lost that player. Beyond that, everyone is back, so we have experience. Everyone is better. I can't even express how happy I was that we walked out of there with a win. I really don't think we were at a point where we were clicking offensively at every position. We have both of our middle hitters back from last year, and we rarely got them the ball. If we do finally get them involved, we're going to become a decent team again. I was really excited about being able to pull out a win early in this season where we're currently at."
Brent Edwards turned in a remarkable 32-dig effort to lead the defense. He also had one ace.
"I was super happy with our libero," Fee said of Edwards. "He was a starter last year, and I think he kind of came into the season a little bit nervous. I figured with a year of experience that would be gone, but he played so well.
"I talked to him after the match and said, 'You should be playing like you're one of the best players around' because he is. He had 32 digs and passed really well. He was picking up shots that we figured our middle back defenders should be picking up, and he was kind of cutting them off and reading it and almost played the entire floor back there. I was really excited about how he played."
Sean Sweeney (14 kills, 23 assists, one ace, 21 digs) and Kevin Killoran (13 kills, 21 assists, two aces, 29 digs, four blocks) turned in stellar all-around efforts. Sweeney, solely used as an outside hitter last year, has added setting out of the 6-2 to his role this season. Killoran, the team's setter last year, is also hitting this year.
"Sean really carried the load offensively for us," Fee said. "Surprisingly enough, we discovered this offseason that our setter from last season (Killoran) could hit really well, so we're taking advantage of that, and he was right there with Sean with the kills. They were the two guys we were pretty much trying to win the match with.
"With two guys and a few of the other sprinkled in - it's just not enough yet. The consistency is not there yet because it's two setters versus one. It's not necessarily the players that are attacking the ball that are working inconsistently, it's a combination of the two setters and the two hitters jelling a little bit together."
James Greenland (11 kills, one assist, 13 digs) also came up huge. Louie Bavas (eight kills, one dig, one block), Kenny Hickman (two kills, one ace, seven digs, four blocks), Mason Reilley (one kill, one assist, five digs, five blocks) and Charlie Bluestein (one ace, 14 digs) also made important contributions for the Falcons.
For the Indians, Will Desautelle (16 kills, 13 digs, 1 block) and Jason Yakimiv (11 kills, 28 digs, 3 blocks) had big games at the net as well as defensively. Setter Logan Fuglestad had 37 assists, 17 digs, five kills and one ace. Eric Van Thuyne (8 kills, 16 digs, 1.5 blocks) and Tommy Angelina (7 kills, 3.5 blocks) also made important contributions. Defensively, Alex Saraceno (25 digs, 3 assists, 1 ace) and Aaron Knotts (19 digs, 1 assist) came up big on defense. Sean Helmlinger chipped in with three kills, one block and one assist, and Harry Wyatt had .5 block.
SOUDERTON 3, CHELTENHAM 0 (25-11, 25-12, 25-21)
The Indians picked up their second win of the young season, sweeping the visiting Panthers in what coach Dave Stastny called a “big team effort throughout the match.”
Nate Klaus led the Indians with five kills while Sam Hess and Ben Campman each had four kills. Hess also had five digs. Setter Jack Pagan had 10 assists to go along with three aces.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, QUAKERTOWN 1 (25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20)
Daniel Klapper turned in a monster performance at the net, finishing with 27 kills to go along with three aces. Ryan Alu added 12 kills. Sam Winderman had six digs and four aces, and setter Matt Douple handed out 43 assists.
For the Panthers, Mike Dierolf (11 kills, 10 digs), Zach Dierolf (nine kills) and Logan Spieker (six kills, one ace) led the way at the net. Setter Drew Stout had 24 assists. Zach Mahler (14 digs), Kevin Finlayson (six digs) and Jeff Prusch (five digs) led the way defensively.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3, BENSALEM 0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-12)
Tyler Hondros had a big night at the net for the Golden Hawks, contributing 16 kills. Sean Rodman led the defense with 12 digs to go along with five aces.
For Bensalem, Ronak Patel had 16 assists, three kills and seven digs. The attack was led by Joey Conley with eight kills, one ace and seven digs. Austin Sherel (three kills, two blocks, one ace), Philip Bui (three kills), Bhav Patel (three kills, one ace) and Shekib Ghafary (two kills, two assists) also contributed. Strong defensive efforts were turn in by the entire team, including libero Hari Patel (six digs) and DS Ronak Shah (five digs.)
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, UPPER DUBLIN 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-20)
Chris Woolslayer led a diverse Patriot attack with 13 kills, five digs and one block. Jarred Minschwaner was credited with six digs, five kills and five aces. Pierce Budson had seven blocks, four kills and an ace while Andrew Bennet contributed five kills, two aces and a block. Carter Haban and Mason Miller had 15 and 18 assists, respectively.
For the Flying Cardinals, Evan Madden had three aces, 11 kills and five digs. Andy Katz had one kill and eight digs, and Joe Choi led the defense with 13 digs. Jose Palomeque had two kills, 19 assists and five digs.
“(We) fought hard in a tough loss against CB East, which is well balanced offensively and defensively,” UD coach Paul Choi said. “Down the stretch, we had too many mental errors and unforced errors against a well-experienced team.”
PENNRIDGE 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 (25-11, 25-9, 25-19)
Jesse Smith (nine assists) and Corey Quaste (18 assists) shared setting duties in Thursday night’s sweep of the Titans. Cross Edwards led the Rams at the net with eight kills and two blocks to go along with five aces. Kevin Jones (six kills), Ben Chinnici (five kills), Josiah Friesen (four kills), Ryan Spangler (three kills) and Aaron Nelson (three kills, three aces) also contributed at the net. Austin Rush (eight digs, four aces) and Caleb Pennell (five digs) led the Rams’ defense.
For the Titans, setter Mark Macios had 11 assists, two blocks and three digs. Middle Jack Mayhew had three blocks, two kills and six digs, and outside hitter Justin Koren contributed five kills, four digs and three aces. A pair of first-year sophomores also stepped up and contributed - middle Joe Karn (two blocks, one kill, one dig) and outside hitter Tim White (two kills, two digs). Freshman libero Mike Devlin stepped in for an absent player and helped with two digs and some key passing.
“I felt we played much improved from our opening match,” coach Matt Ehlers said. “However, their jump serves gave us trouble.
“Tonight was a complete team effort, and I was proud of how this young team continued to compete.”
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