Inspired by Adam Bennett, Indians defeat York Suburban and head to
Shippensburg. http://www.mcall.com/html/index/highsch.htm
05/30/01 http://www.mcall.com/html/sports/high/c_pg006vbsouderton.htm
By MARK WOGENRICH
Of The Morning Call
NORRISTOWN -- York Suburban whittled Souderton's Game-5 lead to 14-12 when Souderton
coach Anthony Molettiere called timeout. Middle hitter Adam Bennett took over
the timeout by calling for the ball.
"When someone is playing like that and asks for the ball," setter
Ryan Coyle said, "well, I get it to him."
Bennett halted the Trojans' run with a kill, then teammate Jeremy Barndt
halted the Trojans' season with one more. And after yet another
come-from-behind rally, Souderton ousted York Suburban in five games Tuesday in
the PIAA regional volleyball tournament at Norristown High School.
Trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five match, the Indians clung to Bennett's big
shoulders for a 15-9, 9-15, 11-15, 16-14, 15-12 win.
With the win, Souderton advanced to the eight-team state tournament, which
begins Friday at Shippensburg University.
Souderton (21-2) has been full of comebacks this postseason, which drained
the surprise from Tuesday's run.
Overwhelmed by the Trojans' big-hitting Ryan Fisher and a huge blocking
wall, the Indians fell behind just like they did against Pennsbury last week in
the District One final.
And just like last week, the Indians picked up their defense, got hot up
front and out-hit an opponent to victory.
"Good thing we play five games," Molettiere said.
No kidding.
After a convincing first-game win, the Indians couldn't stop Fisher or hit
through York Suburban's blocking.
A 6-3 senior bound for Penn State, Fisher is an acrobatic and potent hitter
who loves to plop the occasional -- and defensively frustrating -- drop shot.
He can because he hits with a power Souderton hadn't seen all year.
"He almost single-handedly sent us home," Coyle said.
But after losing the second and third games, Souderton buckled down.
Bennett, a 6-4 junior, began squeezing himself into Fisher's line of fire. He
had six stuff blocks in the fourth game, three against Fisher. He also began
hitting.
At one point, Bennett ended three consecutive possessions by himself, one
for a sideout and two for points. Bennett, who finished with 14 stuff blocks,
followed a kill with consecutive blocks for points against Fisher.
That rallied the Indians, who began scooping everything else off the floor.
Coyle dug Fisher several times, proven by the red marks on his wrists.
York Suburban (20-3) would not be chased easily, though, and tied the fourth
game at 10. An ace by Andrew Kelly (one of his three) opened the gates toward
the finish.
Souderton had four game points and let York Suburban pull to a 14-14 tie
before scoring twice to win the game and tie the match.
Bennett, who had eight of his team-high 29 kills in the fourth game, scored
the last two points for the 16-14 win.
"Adam put us on his shoulders," Molettiere said. "He refuses
to let us lose."
After taking a 10-5 lead, Souderton made the fifth game equally as dramatic.
Fisher hit the Trojans to within one, 10-9, before they went cold. A trio of
Trojans errors gave Souderton a 14-9 lead, then a trio of Souderton errors
pulled the score to 14-12.
That's when Molettiere called the timeout.
"Adam brought us back from the ledge," Coyle said.
Barndt gave the Indians a potent middle attack, adding 15 kills and seven
blocks. Senior Steve Delp played his usually powerful game with 27 kills.
· Reporter Mark Wogenrich
215-529-2608