Check out the results for SOL boys volleyball teams in action Wednesday.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, UPPER DUBLIN 2 (25-22, 25-20, 24-26, 25-27, 16-14)
Against All Odds.
If the Titans’ match at Upper Dublin had been a movie, that very well could have been the title. An already small South squad that has just 15 players on its roster for both varsity and jayvee was minus three starters, including setter Matt Ehlers who has been sidelined with an injury since the team’s match with Pennridge last week. Throw in the fact that their starting opposite and libero were on vacation, and it looked as though it could spell trouble for the Titans.
Coach Kurt Godfrey tried in vain to have Wednesday’s match rescheduled, but after watching his team earn a gutsy win in five grueling sets, Godfrey is mighty glad he didn’t.
“I have never been involved in such a close match,” the Titans’ first-year coach said. “I went to Upper Dublin tonight with six kids on my varsity roster.
“I have never been prouder to be a coach than I was tonight. These six kids played their hearts out.”
Godfrey’s six players – Steffan Varghese, Steve Wozniak, Mark Macios, Jack Mayhew, Justin Koren and Jon Pileggi – played every single point of the match. Do the math – that’s 224 points.
“There’s no way these kids didn’t go home and collapse,” Godfrey said. “It’s absolutely amazing.
“I honestly didn’t know what to do. I went in fully expecting to lose tonight. I can’t think of a time where I’ve asked kids to dig in like this – I didn’t have a sub, couldn’t pull kids out. I’m so proud of these kids. It was incredible.”
The ride to Upper Dublin, according to Godfrey, was quiet one.
“They played music, but I asked them to sit silently and think about the match coming up and how tough it would be with six kids and – as long as there was an effort – how proud I would be for all six kids to play, and these kids played their hearts out,” the Titan’s coach said. “Literally, all six kids absolutely played amazing. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Varghese, the senior captain, led the charge, contributing 27 kills, one ace and two blocks. Wozniak had 13 kills and one block. Setter Mark Macios – up from the jayvee – had 60 assists.
“Honestly, I don’t think I have seen a kid sweat that much in a game ever,” Godfrey said. “Boy – did he run all over the place to set.”
Mayhew had 11 kills, two blocks, one ace and led the defense – as a middle hitter – with a team-high 30 digs. Middle Justin Koren had two aces, eight kills and 23 digs. Junior Jon Pileggi had one block, one kill and nine digs.
“He had never played any varsity, any volleyball,” Godfrey said of Pileggi. “He had three games of jayvee under his belt, and I asked him to step in and play opposite for me tonight.”
With the win, the Titans improved to 2-2 in league play (3-2 overall).
“These kids are fighting tooth and nail for every point they get, because they are literally in every single play,” Godfrey said. “I made the kids a deal at the beginning of the season – if they win all the games in a week, I would give them off Friday.
“They don’t have school Friday and we don’t have practice. At the beginning of the week, they asked, ‘If we win both games, can we have off Thursday?’ I said, ‘Sure, absolutely.’
“They beat Souderton on Monday night, and they said, ‘Can we have off Friday?’ I said, ‘You have a game on Wednesday. Upper Dublin beat Souderton. You’ve got a much tougher match coming up.’”
The Titans answered the call. There will be no practice on Thursday.
QUAKERTOWN 3, NORTH PENN 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-21)
The Panthers rebounded from their loss to Pennridge Monday to stun a North Penn team that was fresh off a win over defending conference champion Central Bucks West.
Dylan Flor led the way with 12 kills, one block and seven digs. Lucas Schan (seven kills, three blocks), Coulton Terry (seven kills, two blocks) and Mike Dierolf (six kills, five digs) also made important contributions at the net. Libero Nick Wesley led the defense with 11 digs while setter Xavier Villanueva had 27 assists. Zach Dierolf chipped in with one kill, one block and two digs, and Chris Chookagian had three digs and one ace.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, SOUDERTON 0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-18)
The Patriots were led by Chris Woolslayer, who racked up 10 kills, two aces and six digs. Pierce Budson and Eric Chmiel added six and four kills respectively. Jake Staub was credited with 12 assists and added a kill. Mason Miler added 10 assists, three aces and two digs. Jarred Minschwaner had two kills, four aces and four digs, and Marco Pasqual collected four digs. Captain Henry Mallison had two kills, four aces and seven digs.
WILLIAM TENNENT 3, CHRISTOPHER DOCK 0
In a non-league sweep of the Pioneers, Tom Del Conte lead a balanced attack with eight kills while Jake Milnazik added seven kills, one ace and four digs. Kyle Lewicki had three kills, two blocks and 24 assists, and Will Towle had five kills.
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