Trojan War looms
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York Suburban will meet
Chambersburg in the District 3 semifinals on Saturday. |
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YAIAA champion York Suburban joined the
Chambersburg Trojans in the semifinals with a 15-5, 15-5 stomping of Manheim
Township on Thursday night at Central York. In the earlier match, Mid-Penn
co-champion Chambersburg knocked out Carlisle 15-12, 15-8. Thursday’s win was a satisfying one for York
Suburban. Neither coach Bob Laird nor York Suburban’s players were pleased with
the total effort during Tuesday’s pool play. The Trojans finished 3-0,
defeating Carlisle, Warwick, and Twin Valley. But those numbers didn’t disguise
the feeling that Suburban could have played better. “The best motivation is when a kid feels he
could do better,” Laird said. “We did not play with the same intensity that we
showed last week in the league championship tournament Tuesday night, but we
did tonight.” Junior Adam Walton was satisfied with his
performance against Manheim Township. “It felt good to play hard and contribute,”
Walton said. “I wanted to play well after Tuesday, when the expectations were
not met.” Walton, a junior, chipped in six kills, two
blocks and four digs. Sophomore setter Mike Fisher liked the
emotion that York Suburban displayed on the court. “It elevates the level of play when we have
emotion and intensity and boosts the energy of the team,” Fisher said. Fisher ran the offense in smooth fashion,
distributing 17 assists while posting 11 digs and three aces. Manheim Township coach Bob Kennedy and his
13th-ranked Blue Streaks didn’t know what hit them. “We couldn’t pass the ball at all,” Kennedy
said. “Credit York Suburban’s serving because they took us out of any offense
that we wanted to run.” The Trojans had 36 digs defensively,
something Laird noticed. “That energy shows in great defense and we
had hustle plays tonight,” Laird said. “It doesn’t always matter if a player
gets to a ball but it does matter if he tries.” Senior Ryan Fisher had 11 kills and 11 digs,
and a big smile following the match. “That’s exactly how I thought we’d play,”
Fisher said. “We talked about high energy on the bus and were pumped to play
them — it was a little payback after some trash-talking on their part.” Chambersburg (20-2) enters the semifinals
having played and defeated York Suburban (17-1) in a tournament at Dallastown
earlier this season. But Fisher did not play in that match. * * * Saturday morning’s other semifinal at
Central York will feature Northeastern against Hempfield. The Bobcats advanced with a 15-8, 9-15,
15-13 win over Cumberland Valley. It was the Bobcats’ second three-set win over
the Eagles in less than two weeks. Hempfield, meanwhile, posted a 15-7, 15-6
victory over Exeter.