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Suburban senior Ted Hinnenkamp compares district titles
Suburban coach Jamie Evans honors a senior in a special way.
York, Pa. -- After winning the YAIAA volleyball regular season and tournament championships, York Suburban was in the position many expected the team to be in during Friday's District 3 Class AA title match at Central York.
And when Dover's final serve attempt went long, the Trojans had earned their well-deserved gold medals.
Even though it's the first district volleyball title in school history, York Suburban has even higher goals, just ask coach Jamie Evans.
Ranked No. 1 in the state in Class AA, the Trojans have reached their first two goals, but now have one more attainable goal remaining - winning the PIAA tournament, which gets under way on Tuesday.
"Going down the line we said, 'We've got more work to do,' as I was putting the medals on their neck," Evans said. "They were in that rare position where it was almost an expectation.
"I was talking to one of the parents and said it is almost a shame that if they don't win counties, districts and states. It would be like a disappointment. I think they have weathered that pressure."
"It feels great, we just have to keep this going and go into states with nothing to lose," said senior setter Kody Deiter, who dished out 61 assists over two matches, to go along with five kills, two blocks and 25 digs.
York Suburban won districts in much the same way it won league matches all season - by sweeping the opposition.
The Trojans topped Dover, 25-14, 25-21, 25-17, in the championship match and started Friday by knocking off another YAIAA foe in Northeastern in the semifinals, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19.
Jaryd Eshler had 16 kills in the final and finished with 27 overall. He added 17 digs on the night.
"Being top seeded, I feel like everyone expected us to win it," Eshler said. "We knew it was going to be a fight, no matter what, so we tried to keep our heads high every single play and take it to whatever team we played until we won. We had a great run, and we are just going to keep going with it and hopefully win states."
The Trojans will open the PIAA tournament against North Pocono on Tuesday, likely at either Governor Mifflin or Wilson. The winner of that match will head to State College for next Friday's PIAA pool play.
Senior Ted Hinnenkamp, who had a combined 14 kills, five blocks, five digs and two aces against the Bobcats and Eagles, likes his team's approach.
"This is definitely a big honor. It would have been easy for us to overlook districts because we already made states. It was huge because now we have a lot of momentum," he said. "Our passing was almost perfect, Kody's sets were well on the money. Our hits were crisp, and our blocks were there. We performed at the top of our level."
Fred Gard was solid as well for York Suburban, notching 10 kills, two blocks, 19 digs and two aces. It was Gard
Dover had to survived a five-set match against Manheim Central in the semifinals. In fact, the Eagles were down a game twice before taking the fourth and fifth games by wide margins, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-11, 15-9.
"I don't think we were as prepared as we should have been," Dover coach Chris Kennedy said. "Manheim came out like they wanted it more than us. It took us a while to get going."
The Eagles are slated to play District 12 champion Masterman on Tuesday with the winner heading to State College next Friday for pool play.
After losing to York Suburban, Northeastern rallied in the third-place match, taking care of Manheim Central, 25-21, 25-15, 25-22.
Bobcats coach Matt Wilson stressed the importance of placing third to avoid playing the District 7 champion on Tuesday. Northeastern will still face a district champ, but likely a less formidable one in whichever team wins District 6.
Wilson can take solace in the fact that his team was the three-time defending district champ, however the veteran coach couldn't help but remember holding a 23-20 lead in the first game of their semifinal against York Suburban.
"Our kids did their best to preserve that streak," he said. "I still would have liked to have Game 1 back ... But, it's a part of where they are and where we are."
@stevenavaroli; 771-2060
CLASS AA
at Central York H.S.
Semifinals
Dover 3, Manheim Central 2 (21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-11, 15-9)
York Suburban 3, Northeastern 0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-19)
Third-Place Match
Northeastern 3, Manheim Central 0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-22)
Championship
York Suburban 3, Dover 0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-17)
District 3 Class AA
championship match
at Central York
YORK SUBURBAN 3, DOVER 0
(25-14, 25-21, 25-17)
Dover stats -- Tyler Wiley (9 digs), Ryan Lamparter (12 kills, 1 block), Tyler Lehman (9 kills, 1 ace), Brandon Krone (2 kills, 26 assists), Brendan Warren (3 kills, 1 block, 5 digs).
York Suburban stats -- Fred Gard (3 kills, 2 blocks, 7 digs, 1 ace, 1 assist), Jaryd Eshler (16 kills, 7 digs, 1 ace), Jacob Kauffman (5 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs, 1 ace), Ted Hinnenkamp (8 kills, 1 blocks, 4 digs), Brad Hartshorne (4 kills, 4 blocks, 4 digs), Kody Deiter (3 kills, 1 block, 12 digs, 30 assists), Justin Corsa (7 digs, 3 assists).
