Friday, May 18
L-L VOLLEYBALL
Ian Radcliff Intelligencer Journal Correspondent
Hempfield's dominance of the L-L Boys" Volleyball League has risen to a whole new level.
The Section One champion Black Knights won their 10th league title in 11 years in grand style, dismissing Manheim Township, 15-0, 15-1 Thursday night at Ephrata Middle School.
That performance against this year's Section One runner-up and the 16th-ranked team in the state followed an equally impressive performance, if not more so, in the semifinals, where Hempfield beat Warwick, 15-0, 15-0.
Four games, four wins, one point against. Any inkling that this team may have been on a downward trend after the first round of league playoffs Tuesday evaporated in the 25 minutes it took to play the championship match.
"We wanted to make a statement,'" senior outside hitter Keith Maurer said. "The other night we didn't bring our game face and goofed around a little bit. We wanted to bring it in tonight and show everyone that we're for real. I think we did."
They did it with typically frustrating Hempfield volleyball, and then some _ quick hits, dead-on passing and brick-wall defense. Township managed only 12 sides out the entire match and just three in the second game.
"(We) were intense and focused, and error-free,'" coach Mike Vogel said. "We're not an emotional team and it's very evident. We're very businesslike."
Despite the final outcome, nothing can be taken away from Township's overall performance. The Streaks were in a bad way from the outset, coming off a long, three-game win over Penn Manor in the other semi, 15-13, 8-15, 15-1. They went into the final relatively tired, as compared to a steamrolling Hempfield team that had barely broken a sweat in its semi, equipped with its new-found game face.
"We had a tough practice (Wednesday) and it kind of gave us more of an edge,'" Hempfield senior middle Matt Manning said. "We were more prepared, and it also helped keep us a little more focused in the huddle. Tuesday night we were kind of floating around. We didn't float around at all (Thursday)."
Maurer and seniors Tony Spangler and Ben Murray had five kills each to pace the Knights in the final. Stephen Mummaw had four and Manning added three.
"We came to play,'" Mummaw said. "Something clicks in all of us and it just happens. We're just going to get better."
That will be seen starting Tuesday night in the opening round of the District Three Tournament. Hempfield will host Pool A, Township will travel to Dover in Pool C.
The rest of the bracket is yet to be determined. Pool B includes Penn Manor, a 17-15, 15-9 winner over Warwick in the third-place match, and Cocalico, which beat Conestoga Valley in the fifth-place match, 15-3, 16-14. Fourth-place Warwick will be in Pool D.
Thursday night's wins bring Hempfield's overall record, including tournaments, to 47-0. The Knights have not lost a single game in 97. And only now are they beginning to hit full stride.
"We realized we can't be cruising through and we have to take everyone seriously,'" senior setter Matt Baker said. "We're awake and ready to go now.'"