York Suburban, New Oxford advance to state tournament

By DICK VanOLINDA
Dispatch/Sunday News

York Suburban's boys' volleyball players walked out of the Central gymnasium yesterday with silver medals around their necks.

The Trojans had hoped to take gold souvenirs home from the District 3 Tournament..

But they weren't going to let a 15-6, 15-12 loss to a powerful Hempfield team erase what they've accomplished this season.

York Suburban made history in 2000.

The Trojans advanced to the District 3 championship match for the first time. And they will make their initial appearance in the PIAA state tournament beginning on Friday morning at Shippensburg University.

New Oxford downed Exeter, 15-3, 15-11, in yesterday's third-place match.

York Suburban beat New Oxford in three games, 15-8, 13-15, 15-6, in the semifinals.

"It means a lot to be going to states," York Suburban's outstanding hitter, Ryan Fisher, said.

"I'm happy for everyone on the team. States is something we strive for every year, but this was our year."

It wasn't Suburban's day to win a district title. That's because the No. 1 team in the state stood between the Trojans and the championship trophy.

"They're a strong team," Fisher said. "They get everything back up. You hit a ball down, but they dig it (before it hits the floor)."

Fisher did manage to get nine kills past the Hempfield defense. And he and his teammates made the Black Knights work hard for the victory.

The match was a stark contrast from Thursday night's quarterfinal pool play encounter when Hempfield breezed past York Suburban, 15-2, 15-5.

"On Thursday night, we hammered them, but I knew we weren't going to do that today," Hempfield coach Mike Vogel said. "They have some good athletes, and if that Fisher kid gets hot, you better bring your helmet."

Fisher and his teammates had their moments in the title match.

York Suburban was locked in a 5-5 tie with Hempfield in the first game. The Black Knights then ran off eight straight points. Tony Spangler sparked the run with a block for one point and a service winner for another. He also forced two side outs with a block and a kill.

"In the first game, Spangler was the key," Vogel said.

The second game was tight all the way. There were ties at five, 10 and 11 before Hempfield scored four of the match's final five points.

"I think in that first game, we lost our focus, and that was because of me reacting to an official's call," York Suburban coach Bob Laird said. "I usually don't do that, and I think that took away the kids' focus.

"The key to districts, though, is moving on to states, and we achieved that."

Colonials also moving on: New Oxford, the YAIAA champion, will also be traveling to states for the first time.

"We're extremely pleased," Colonials' coach Mike O'Brien said. "We reached districts four of the last five years, but this is the first year we made states. We played very well today. We got beat by a hot York Suburban team, and we bounced back to beat Exeter."

The York Suburban-New Oxford match was filled with terrific plays.

After the teams split the first two games, York Suburban broke open the deciding game with an eight-point run to build a commanding 13-2 lead.

It was the first time the teams met since they played on March 24 in the league opener. New Oxford won, 15-7, 15-11.

"We've been waiting for them since then," said York Suburban setter Craig Campbell who delivered 48 assists.

"We were really pumped up for today's match. There's a lot of emotion on our bench and a lot of emotion in the stands from our fans, and we feed off that."

What was the difference between the first York Suburban-New Oxford match and the second?

"I think our blocking is improved, and our passing on serve reception is much better," Laird said. "I just don't think we have a weak point on our team. People think we have only one hitter (Fisher), but we don't."

While pleased with the victory, Laird wished it didn't have to come at New Oxford's expense.

"It was a shame we had to play them. I have a lot of respect for Mike and his team. They're a class program."

Notes: Fisher pounded 33 kills and made 11 digs in the two matches (semifinals and final). Jim Saucerman had 18 kills, 14 digs and three stuffed blocks, and Campbell recorded 68 assists, three stuffed blocks and six digs. Jon Schuhart (eight kills, 13 digs, three blocks and three stuffed blocks), Adam Walton (nine kills, eight digs, two blocks) and Braden Walton (three kills, two stuffed blocks) were York Suburban's other main contributors.

Chris Colgan hammered 21 kills for New Oxford. He added 12 digs and two blocks. Mike Shrader provided 13 kills, eight digs and two aces, Dan Smith had 11 kills and five blocks, and Jim Cramer finished with 51 assists and five kills. Mark Hagarman (seven kills, 10 digs) and B.J. Lawrence (14 digs) were also key contributors for the Colonials.