Hempfield might be even better
Despite major losses Knights will reload
Friday, April 6
L-L BOYS' VOLLEYBALL 2001
Ian RadcliffIntelligencer Journal Correspondent
A funny thing happens every year around this time.
A group of volleyball players takes the court in the dimly lit sweatbox that is the Hempfield High School gym. Outside, other spring athletes hone their skills under bright sunshine, the breeze still cool on their necks.
At first glance, this group seems depleted after losing four starters to graduation, two of whom were first-team all-staters.
But upon closer inspection, you can see what the rest of the L-L League, District Three and the entire state will soon see. Somehow, again, this year's version of the Hempfield boys' volleyball team is bigger _ and maybe even better _ than last year's.
"Everyone will compare us to last year, that's human nature," Black Knight coach Mike Vogel said. "But look at it this way. We had already lost our first game at this point last year, at the Wilson tournament."
No such loss this year. Hempfield cruised through seven matches at the Bulldog Classic, not giving up more than eight points in any game. The Knights have also won the Warwick tournament, and haven't been touched so far in league play.
The 2001 Knights revolve around a trio of veteran stars _ middle hitter Ben Murray, outside hitter Tony Spangler and setter Matt Baker. None can be considered more important than another, and each brings to the table an impressive resume.
Murray is a load in the middle, 6-foot-4, solid as a rock, and according to Vogel, dangerous. He could develop into one of the best and most feared players in the state.
"I think we have better dynamics than last year, that's one thing I've noticed," Murray said. "Everyone is working hard at practice."
Not that they didn't last year, but these guys have been through the ringer at states the past two years. After an elimination-by-technicality in '99, the Knights saved their worst performance of last year for the PIAA semifinal against Montour, a 15-13, 15-12 loss.
"This team is more mature," Vogel said. "They saw their big brother go through it last year, they saw what took place. There was one match where they weren't at the top of their game. You look at that and say, "I've experienced that and I don't want that to happen to me.' "
No one knows that better than Spangler, who by himself kept Hempfield in the Montour match with 17 kills. That performance vaulted him into a team-leader role that this particular group needs.
"I knew I had to pick it up, but hopefully somebody won't have to do that again this year," Spangler said. "I just need to get the adrenaline going. Everybody else on our team is pretty quiet."
Baker is a wily veteran that was thrown into a difficult position two years ago at states when then-setter Randy Paules was out with an ankle injury. Baker performed admirably, and it's finally his turn to be the full-time floor general _ a job he has embraced brilliantly.
Toss senior outside hitters Steve Mummaw and Keith Maurer, and 6-8 senior middle Matt Manning into the mix, along with newcomers Evan Earnest, Tom Diehl, Gary Vogel and Stephen Yeager, and this is the deepest and most well-rounded Hempfield team in recent memory.
"It should make for an interesting season," Vogel said. "We should be decent."
Funny, but for some reason, decent just doesn't seem strong enough a word.
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