Souderton downs Dock, gains finals

Seniors Steve Delp and Kolter Hodges have smashing nights at the net.

05/23/01

By MARK WOGENRICH
Of The Morning Call

Trailing by five, unsure of its game an unable to hear over Christopher Dock's bleacher mania, Souderton calmly regrouped. And then it unloaded.

"If we don't win that first game," Souderton's Adam Bennett said, "this could have been a whole different night. That set the tone for the entire match."

The Indians rallied from a 14-9 deficit, holding off three game points, to take the opener en route to a 16-14, 15-8, 15-13 victory over the Pioneers in the District One volleyball semifinals.

With the victory, third-seeded Souderton (19-2) advanced to Thursday's district final against Pennsbury at Norristown High. The Falcons upset top-seeded Council Rock 3-1 in the second semifinal.

More important, though, Souderton earned a spot in the PIAA tournament, which begins next week. Christopher Dock, seeded second in districts, concluded a 17-1 season with its only dual-match loss.

For Souderton and Christopher Dock, which quickly are developing a hearty volleyball rivalry, the match was another doozy. Earlier this month they filled Christopher Dock's gym for a three-game thriller that had both sides panting (and which the Pioneers won).

This time, Christopher Dock broke loose early with a 5-0 lead and extended it to 14-9. At that point, Souderton became alert.

The Indians held off Christopher Dock at three different game points, twice doing so with sharp kills. Senior Steve Delp, who led with 19 kills, hit the first, followed by another by Kolter Hodges. Both kids took big swings at tight moments and made them work.

After Hodges' sideout kill, the Indians rallied for six straight points on Ryan Coyle's serve. Hodges scored two of the points, including the game-winner on a drop. Matt LeSuer's stuff block proved another crucial moment.

"I wasn't sure we would pull that off," said Bennett, a junior middle hitter. "Then we got rolling and put some balls down at the end."

With that, Souderton was revived. Passing sluggishly and hitting errantly in game one, the team unfurled perhaps its best game of the season.

Bennett and Hodges, who had 13 kills each, hit the Indians to a quick 6-1 lead. Coyle, Souderton's sophomore setter, moved the ball superbly in the second game, finding Bennett inside and Delp outside.

When the Pioneers pulled within two, at 7-5, Souderton regained control. Bennett had three kills down the stretch, and Hodges closed out the game with a kill down the left side.

"We didn't start well," Delp said, "but once we got going, I think we played the best we have all season."

But, unlike regular-season matches, the district semifinals and final matches are best-of-five (that will continue into states). Having stretched itself so far already, Souderton reverted to a basic plan (set Delp) in game three.

When the Pioneers began triple-teaming Delp, the Indians needed a new plan. So they worked the ball around to Bennett and Jeremy Barndt and benefitted from several Christopher Dock mistakes.

With the game tied 13-13, Souderton made its last push. Delp, after being blocked twice on the previous play, hit for a sideout, and Souderton followed with a point from a Christopher Dock error. Bennett ended the match by blocking the Pioneers' Jared Kerr at midcourt.

Hodges had a particularly strong night, adding 20 digs and making only one hitting error. LeSuer chipped in 17 digs and two serving aces.