Kodidek helps set up Pennridge for close win over Dock Mennonite

TOWAMENCIN >> When Riley Kodidek sets a ball, it’s usually going to exactly the right person.

Time and time again Friday night, Pennridge’s senior setter put the volleyball in just the right spot and just out of reach for Dock Mennonite Academy’s defense as the Rams battled the host Pioneers. There are a few new faces in the rotation for the defending District 1 Class 3A champions, but Kodidek is the perfect player to keep everything set.

In a tremendous match, it was Kodidek and the Rams emerging with a 3-2 win (18-25, 25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 15-9) over the Pioneers in a battle of two of the top teams in the area.

“When we get into a fifth set, we like to break it up ‘first to five,’ then ‘first to 10,'” Kodidek said. “If you focus just on those mini-games, then you can focus on the big game getting to 15 at the end. I think that really helps us narrow it down and take an early lead like we did.”

Kodidek wasn’t just a passer — although he was really, really good at that with 46 assists — he also chipped in pretty much everywhere else. The 6-foot-1 senior, who will play at Arcadia next year, slipped in six kills of his own plus nine digs, four blocks and three service aces.

Senior  libero Alex Derk had 14 digs for the Rams and he consistently put the ball in a good spot off serves for Kodidek to set up for one of the outside hitters or senior middle Tyler Johnson. Johnson, who had the game-ending kill to cap a 17-kill night, was also a difference maker for Pennridge alongside senior Nick Smith as they combined for eight blocks.

“What we adjusted well to was their middles,” Kodidek said. “We forced them to tip a bit more, we were able to run stuff off that and get kills off of it. I think it shows we can compete with top teams and we can do stuff outside of District 1.”

Dock, the sole team in Class 2A from District 1, has its sights on a postseason run and to do that, the Pioneers know they need to face top competition outside their league. They haven’t been afraid to step up in class, with Friday marking just their second defeat of the season with the other coming against another strong SOL side in Neshaminy.

Pioneers coach Kirby King also felt Pennridge’s middle hitters were a key part of the game, both with their strong defense at the net and their ability to finish off Kodidek’s passing that helped set up the outside hitters’ swings.

“They showed us what it’s like to control the ball,” King said. “They serve-pass really well, they dug our swings really well, they play great defense and they showed us that’s what we have to do to play at this level, we have to step up our defense.”

In front of a good-sized and engaged crowd, the Pioneers came out swinging and used an 8-2 scoring run after falling behind 11-7 to seize control of their opening set win.

Pennridge fired off to start the second set, taking a 6-1 lead and answering every time Dock started to gain some ground before tying the match up. The Rams again used some early momentum in the third set to take control at 13-7 and held serve from there, flipping the script with a chance to close out the match in the fourth set.

Instead, Dock was now the team that dug in and held off a late rally by the Rams to force the decisive fifth contest.

“We weren’t filling out blocking assignments very well, every time I called a timeout we just wanted to focus on that, they know it but it’s a big moment with a big crowd,” King said. “They did well responding, adjusting and trying to move forward.

“The level that was played here is the level that will be played in states and likely even in districts. We’re paired up with District 2, we don’t see those teams often but we’re going to have to play to that level regardless if we want to get to states.”

Dock setter Lane Bergey had a good game as well and hitters Sean Gillespie and Anthony Bernardo were able to knock down some vital kills for the Pioneers.

It was a matter of being a half-step or half-second late on defense that ultimately undid the Pioneers’ efforts. Dock has a tall, long-armed and athletic team, but thanks to Pennridge’s solid middle play and Kodidek’s distribution, the Rams were able to keep the hosts from planting in one area and denied them chances for clean blocks.

Rams coach Dave Childs felt composure was also an important factor for his team going into the deciding fifth set. With an experienced setter like Kodidek directing the flow, Pennridge didn’t have to do anything different either.

“We stayed aggressive, sometimes you get into a fifth game and you tighten up but we still played our game,” Childs said. “The decision-making tonight was great from him, he got everyone involved and kept everyone involved throughout the whole match and that helps the hitters out when they’re involved consistently.”