JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Stop No. 2 on my Berks County tour on Tuesday was Wilson High School, where Garden Spot took on Holy Redeemer in a PIAA boys’ Double-A first-round volleyball match. The Spartans, in States for the first time in the history of the program, played great, and will join Hempfield at Penn State on Friday for PIAA pool play. Here’s my recap from Wednesday’s New Era:
WEST LAWN – Two for the show.
Garden Spot continued its magical postseason run with a victory in its first PIAA playoff action, and Hempfield kept on keeping on, and will have a shot to win the Triple-A boys volleyball championship for the third year in a row.
The Spartans, who finished second in Section 2 of the L-L League, made the league semifinals and fell to Eastern York in the District 3 Double-A finale, scorched District 2 runner-up Holy Redeemer 3-0 in a Double-A first-round match on Tuesday at Wilson High School.
The Black Knights, who won Section 1, captured the league title and fell to Cumberland Valley in the District 3 Triple-A finale, knocked off District 1 champ Kensington 3-0 in a Triple-A first-round match at Philadelphia Community College.
The victories send Garden Spot and Hempfield into quarterfinal-round pool play Friday at Penn State. The top two teams in each pool advance. The state semifinals and finals are set for Saturday. The Knights have won nine state championships – tied with Haverford for the most in state-playoff history – while Garden Spot is in States for the first time.
“This is a huge step for our program,” said Garden Spot coach Scott Garman, whose Spartans topped Holy Redeemer by game scores of 25-21, 25-15, 25-22.
“To be in the final eight in the state … anything can happen,” he said. “If we play hard and leave it all on the floor, we’ve got nothing to lose.”
Garden Spot dominated Holy Redeemer at the net, with hitters Dan Smucker, Goran Skinder and Dean Wanner all doing serious damage in the air. Smucker and Skinder had seven kills apiece and Wanner added five kills for the Spartans, who also blocked well, and were never really threatened.
“This is what we’ve been working for, so it’s the best feeling in the world,” said Skinder, who had a pair of blocks.
“There’s not turning back now. We’ve made it this far, it feels great, and now we’re going for it.”
Garden Spot and Hempfield are both in tricky pools on Friday.
In Double-A, the Spartans are in Pool B, along with District 7 champ Ambridge, the top-ranked team in the state, District 10 champ Saegertown, the second-ranked team in the state, and District 2 third-place finisher Wilkes-Barre Coughlin.
“It’s kind of surreal right now,” said Wanner, who had four service aces. “We made it to pool play in States … it’s crazy.”
In Triple-A, the Black Knights are also in Pool B, along with District 7 champ North Allegheny, the top-ranked team in the state, District 1 champ Pennsbury, the second-ranked team in the state and reigning state runner-up, and District 1 third-place finisher Souderton.
Hempfield is ranked fifth in the state.
“It’s a confidence thing now,” Knights coach Mike Vogel said late Tuesday. “We know we can play. Now we have to go up there and go for it; let it all hang out.”
Hempfield did just that against Kensington, winning by game scores of 25-13, 25-21, 25-18. Opposite hitter Shawn Sangrey, an Ohio State recruit, led the way with 18 kills, five blocks and a pair of service aces, and Josh Mealy added six blocks for the Knights.
“Our goal all along has been to get to States,” Vogel said. “Our kids are very happy to be going back to Penn State.”
Where Hempfield will go for the three-peat – and try and make it 10 state titles – and Garden Spot will try and make a little more history.
“It’s been a great ride – a real roller coaster ride,” Skinder said. “We’re just having fun, and we’re all playing to win — and we all have a hunger to win.”
