JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
As I sit here posting this (still trying to figure out how in the world David Cook beat out David Archuleta, by 12 million votes, no less, despite my sure-fire prediction), I’m still not sure how Hempfield escaped with the District 3 Triple-A boys’ volleyball Pool B title Wednesday night at Central York High School. The Black Knights were thisclose from being bounced, yet found a way to rally, win the pool and advance to Friday’s district semifinals. A gigantic win over the state’s top-ranked team, Central York, certainly helped. Wow. Garden Spot also advanced to the semifinals in Double-A, and despite a loss Wednesday, Lancaster Mennonite is still alive for States in Double-A. Here’s my recap from Thursday’s New Era:
YORK – Shawn Sangrey was plumb tuckered out.
“I still don’t understand how we pulled this one off,” Hempfield’s standout senior opposite hitter said Wednesday night, slumped over in a metal folding chair.
“I can’t even put this into words.”
In what can best be described as a Houdini Act, the Black Knights somehow, some way went from nearly being bounced from the District 3 Triple-A boys’ volleyball tournament, to winning Pool B in less than an hour.
After Hempfield dropped a 2-1 decision to Mid-Penn third-place finisher Carlisle to drop to 1-1, the Knights needed Mid-Penn runner-up Central Dauphin to beat Carlisle in the third and final match to avoid a messy playoff, or, if CD lost, Hempfield had to knock off host Central York, which just so happens to be the top-ranked team in the state, to survive.
Hempfield, the reigning Lancaster-Lebanon League champ, won the first two games against Central York – 25-18, 25-23 – to clinch the match and Pool B; CD knocked off Carlisle to make it official.
“Fear is a great motivator,” Hempfield coach Mike Vogel said. “I think it made our kids step up and work harder. It certainly was a roller coaster ride. But this is a great win; an awesome win.”
Hempfield, which is ranked fourth in the state in Triple-A by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association, will take on Pool A runner-up Dallastown – which survived a three-way playoff with Governor Mifflin and Cedar Cliff – in one semifinal Friday at 6 p.m. back at Central York.
Cumberland Valley, which went 3-0 and won Pool A, will take on the PVCA’s top-ranked Triple-A team, Central York, in the other semi. The championship match will follow. Hempfield, which topped Cumberland Valley in last year’s title match, is the two-time defending district and PIAA champ.
And thanks to the Knights’ magic act Wednesday, they’re still alive to defend those titles.
One other L-L League team earned a spot in the district semifinals Wednesday – Section 2 runner-up Garden Spot, which knocked off Northeastern 3-2 in a Double-A quarterfinal at Lower Dauphin High School.
This will be the first trip to the district semifinals in the history of the program for Garden Spot, which also locked up a spot in the PIAA playoffs. The Spartans will take on Northern York – which blanked Hershey 3-0 in the quarters – Friday at 6 p.m. at Dallastown High School.
The other semi pits Wyomissing against Eastern York. The championship match will follow.
Meanwhile, Lancaster Mennonite suffered a 3-0 loss to Eastern York in a Double-A quarterfinal Wednesday at Northern York High School. But the Blazers are still alive for the state tournament.
Hempfield needs to finish in the top three to make it to States. The Knights nearly didn’t make it into the Final Four.
After topping Central Dauphin 3-0, Hempfield cruised past Carlisle 25-14 in the first game and the Knights appeared to be in cruise control. But the Thundering Herd sprang to life, rallying for 25-20 and 27-25 wins to drop Hempfield to 1-1.
“Did I think we were going home?” Vogel asked. “It crossed my mind.”
The thought crossed Sangrey’s mind, too. The Ohio State recruit has had an unforgettable four-year run with the Knights, including section, league, district and state titles, plus multiple player of the year and all-state honors.
“During the Carlisle match, in the third game, I thought this might be my last match for Hempfield,” Sangrey said. “After the first game with Carlisle we were dead – I know I was.”
Sangrey’s left arm certainly got a workout. He piled up 27 kills, seven blocks and three aces against Central Dauphin, he had 25 kills and a pair of aces against Carlisle, and he had 14 kills and a pair of blocks in the improbable clincher against Central York.
Pat Donohue had eight kills against Central Dauphin and five against Carlisle, Mike Becker had three total serving aces and Sam Schiffman had three blocks against Central York for Hempfield.
“Before the Central York match Coach told us that we’d have to play the best game of our career,” Sangrey said. “And I thought we came out and played with a lot more intensity. I wasn’t sure if we’d let up or if we’d be intimidated. Turns out we were all fired up and we were all ready to play.”
“We needed some dragon slayers,” Vogel added. “And I thought the kids came out and played pretty darn well.”
In Wednesday’s Double-A quarterfinals:
Garden Spot 3, Northeastern 2
25-17, 21-25, 25-20, 15-25, 15-12
Goran Skinder had 14 kills and five blocks for the Spartans, who needed a fifth and deciding game, but held off Northeastern and advanced to the district semifinals for the first time in school history.
Eastern York 3, Lancaster Mennonite 0
25-23, 25-16, 25-22
Kendall Garber had nine kills for Mennonite, which is still alive despite the loss in the district quarterfinals.
The Blazers, the four-time reigning L-L League Section 2 champs, will take on Spring Grove on Friday at 6 p.m. at Gettysburg in the state-qualifying round.
