Lansdale Catholic stays perfect in PCL, sweeps Archbishop Wood

WARMINSTER >> Both Archbishop Wood and Lansdale Catholic entered Tuesday’s Philadelphia Catholic League matchup as rebuilding programs. LC, however, proved it was at a more advanced stage in its building program as it improved to 6-0 in the Catholic league with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-15) win .

“Experience showed 110 percent tonight,” Wood coach Harris Boys said. “They’ve been playing for three years, our guys, except for two of them, have been playing for a month.”

Both teams had inexperienced players playing setter. Colin Duffner played libero last season for the Crusaders after changing his position to setter this season. Duffner controlled the game setting up the excellent LC hitters as he racked up 17 assists five digs and served 95 percent on the game.

“He ran a couple very serious serving runs for us, we were able to hold his serve,” LC coach Kathy Arnow said. “He’s a first year setter and he’s owning the role. I couldn’t be more proud of the kid. Setters are kind of the unsung heroes.”

Wood struggled to get the setting consistency that LC had, but when the sets were there the Vikings also showed they also have some very formidable hitters specifically senior John Fleming, sophomore Luke Moffet and sophomore John Hober.

“I think we can go toe-to-toe with not just anybody in the league but anybody in the area with our hitters,” Boys said. “It’s just a matter of getting the passes and getting them set and being in system and playing the way we know how.”

LC had the luxury Tuesday of playing all but one point from ahead. The Crusaders jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the first set and had a 7-2 lead in the second set. In the third set, Wood tied at eight but LC closed on a 17-7 run, including an ace by Jack Bagnell on the final point of the game.

“It obviously so much easier (to play with a lead) but I never feel like we have the lead,” Arnow said. “When I look at the scoreboard I don’t see that we’re up by five or 10. I see that maybe we need to execute better or whatever [may be] but it certainly is easier to play with a lead.”

The win continues the Crusaders’ undefeated play alive in the Catholic League, in fact they have not even dropped a set yet. But LC has some tough opponents up coming in Archbishop Ryan, La Salle and Council Rock North.

“We’re getting ready for those (big games),” Arnow said. “Playing Ryan hard, doing what we need to do, playing at Egan hard but (LaSalle and Rock North) those are the two big ones.”