Pennridge clinches SOL Continental title with 4-game win over Souderton

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EAST ROCKHILL >> Already celebrating Senior Night, the Pennridge boys volleyball team went and added another reason to party Friday.

After dropping the opening set to visiting Souderton, Pennridge sandwiched a late surge in Game 3 with a pair of convincing wins to beat the Indians 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-16) and clinch the outright Suburban One League Continental Conference title for the second straight season.

“It’s awesome. It’s not a little thing. It’s a big deal and these guys should be proud of that,” Pennridge coach Dave Childs said. “Everyone of these guys should be proud of that, cause they’re all a part of that and it’s their year up on that banner now.”

Jesse Smith finished with 45 assists, 13 digs, two aces and two blocks, Ben Chinnici chipped in 21 kills while Caleb Pennell made 11 digs and two aces for the Rams (14-3, 14-1 conference).

“It’s definitely nice being senior year, our last season, getting our conference title, but we also have a lot of young people who will be competing next year and stuff,” Smith said. “We still need to improve for district playoffs and then states eventually.”

Souderton (12-5, 11-4) came into the match still having a chance at splitting the Continental crown with the Rams, but needed to win its last two conference games while Pennridge dropped its final two.

The Indians got off to the right start. With the Rams playing its seniors in Game 1, Big Red led by 12 twice before earning the 25-17 win.

Pennridge, however, jump out to a 6-1 lead in the second game and pushed its advantage to much as a dozen (21-9) as the Rams knotted the match by taking the game by eight.

“I think we played well. I mean, I understand the first game – we won, I’m glad we won, that was their seniors, they put up a good fight even there,” Souderton coach Dave Stastny said, “And I’m glad we came and we played strong. So, we said OK, we’re going into the second game knowing that it’s only a couple players here or there that’s going to make a switch, it’s not the whole team, just a couple players.

“But I feel like Pennridge really came out with good rhythm and good focus and they kind of rolled on us.”

The Rams took control of the match in a tight third set, collecting eight of the final 10 points after the game was tied 17-17.

“The way it comes down in the end of games is just executing,” Childs said. “It’s not getting off your game plan, it’s just doing what you always do, even when the score is tight and some guys get tense, I think you just go to relax and play your game and I thought we did that well.”

Souderton posted the first three points in Game 4, but Pennridge grabbed the lead with an 8-1 run, then extended the advantage to as large as nine three times, the last when Josiah Friesen collected the final point in the 25-16 victory.

“We definitely served strong, we hit well,” Smith said. “When our passing’s well, that’s definitely a bonus for us. That was good today and that definitely helped us.”

Nate Klaus collected 13 kills and seven digs for the Indians while Ben Campman had seven kills. Derek DiCesare made 12 digs with Hess having six digs.

“All and all, I’m proud of my kids,” Stastny said. “I thought they played well, they played hard. Sometimes the score might not dictate totally, but it would have been nice to get a little bit closer and see if we could get a little more pressure there. But again, I give those guys credit also.”

Both teams ended the regular season with conference games Monday. Pennridge looks to secure a top-four bye in the District 1-AAA playoffs – the Rams were third in the last power rankings – when it visits Upper Dublin at 3:30 p.m.

“I just want a clean game as much as possible,” Childs said. “I want to see a lot of guys contribute and do a good job and want a clean game. And I want a good week-and-half of practice.”

Souderton, which is ninth in the district rankings, hosts North Penn at 6:30 p.m.

“In reality, I’m fine with what we did here,” Stastny said. “It’s not really so much that we have to do much of anything different. The effort and what we did here today we do Monday I feel confident. North Penn, they gave us a good run for our money the first time, so we’re not going to take them lightly by no means.”

Souderton never trailed in Game 1 Friday. Tied 4-4, Big Red went up for good on the first point of a 4-0 run and had their first lead double-digit lead at 17-7. The advantage grew to 12 twice – 21-9 and 22-10 – before Souderton won by eight.

After Pennridge began the second set up 6-1, the closest the Indians could get was four – the last time at 7-4 – with the Rams extending the margin to 12 at 21-9 in leveling the match with a 25-17 victory.

A 5-0 run gave Souderton an 11-8 lead in Game 3, but Pennridge came out of a time out and answered with five straight points of its own to go up 15-13.

The Indians collected the next two points to tie the game at 15. The teams the next four points before three straight from the Rams made Souderton call a time out. Big Red cut the deficit to 20-18, but Pennridge won five of the next six points to claim a 2-1 match lead.

“I think we just realized the importance of this game, to win the conference,” Smith said. “So we definitely want to give it all and win that game.”

Souderton collected the first three points of Game 4 only for the Rams to win the next four. After the Indians made 4-4, Pennridge responded with a 5-0 run to go back up 9-5.

Big Red got within three four times, but with the score 13-10, the Rams gave themselves some room with a 7-1 run. Souderton cut its deficit to 20-15 before Pennridge won five of the final six points, sealing both the match and conference crown.

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Mike Cabrey

Mike Cabrey
Mike Cabrey is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Reporter and Montgomery News. Email him at mcabrey@thereporteronline.com.

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