Dock Mennonite sweeps Tunkhannock, advances to regional final

TOWAMENCIN >> Dock Mennonite struggled with ball control and as a result, couldn’t run its offense to its entirety Tuesday night.

But the Pioneers still found a way to win 3-0 over tough-blocking Tunkhannock in the District 1-2-11 Regional Semifinal.

“It is a good sign,” Dock coach Kirby King said. “We go up to Holy Redeemer for the title, and it’s nice to know we go to states either way. But it makes a difference where you’re ranked.

“So we would definitely like to win. We’re getting healthier and we’re gonna give it our best shot.”

The Pioneers prevailed in three straight Tuesday, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21 over the Tigers. The win sends the second-seeded Pioneers to top-seeded Holy Redeemer Thursday night.

“They did a great job of blocking,” King said of the third-seeded Tigers. “That’s the best blocking we’ve seen in quite a while, definitely the best blocking we’ve seen out of District Two.

“Our issue was ball control. It was a fun match – they played good defense, banging around, hustling. It makes it a lot more fun.”

Dock rallied in Games Two and Three, taking control down the stretch.

“And that was on serving,” King said. “And some offense, but we didn’t pass well enough to have our full offense. We would have run a whole lot more middles but we didn’t have the pass up to the setter. So our setter got sweated this match. He worked hard.”

That would be Trey Leatherman, who had a pair of aces to go with his 10 digs.

“When we were down (in Games Two and Three), we got together, rounded our crew up and worked at it,” Leatherman said.

Key for the Pioneers was the steady hand of Logan Gillespie, who managed a .467 hitting percentage (eight kills) from the middle. Jacob Shreiner had a team-high 12 kills.

“It feels wonderful to be moving on,” Leatherman said. “I’m glad our team’s doing well and we’re gonna be in the next round. And we’re going to states.

“We’re pretty pumped (for Holy Redeemer). We beat them already and think we can do it again.”

Thursday provides an intriguing rematch.

Said King: “We played them earlier and had a really bang-out match. Every game was close and we squeezed out a victory, but it was really close.

“So we expect the same. They have a good offense. So they can really swing. Maybe that’ll help our defense, to have swings coming at a hundred miles an hour instead of 20. I think we’re gonna be geared up for it too.”