BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Chambersburg rolls past Carlisle, 3-0
CHAMBERSBURG >> Chambersburg put together a pair of nearly-flawless sets and gutted out a victory in the second game to take down Carlisle on Thursday night at CASHS Field House.
The Trojans got a strong game from their middles and threw the Thundering Herd completely off their game to earn a 3-0 Mid Penn Commonwealth Division boys volleyball victory. Chambersburg won 25-12, 25-20, 25-21.
"That was one of the worst passing games I've seen from us since our first State College match, which was our fourth match of the year," Carlisle coach R.J. Roth said. "Our middles are two key players, and we couldn't even get them the ball at all. We can't get points if we can't get them the ball."
Most of the struggles for the Herd (6-6, 2-6 MPC) came from Chambersburg's strong serving game. The Trojans (3-7, 3-5 MPC) led by just two points in the first set before a long serving run from Kenny Coppens.
Chambersburg got three kills from Landon Miller in the eight-point run, and just like that, the Trojans led 14-6.
"We were passing and serving really well," Miller said. "With good passes, we can put the ball away. The middle is the person we have to throw off, so if we're able to spread the ball around, he has no idea where to go."
Chambersburg did just that. Miller led the way with nine kills, while Billy Russo and Evan Misal followed with seven and six, respectively. Aaron Hoke also had four kills, all of which came in the final set.
The Trojans were also strong on the block; Miller had three block kills and Brady Picking notched a pair.
"We have two really tall middles in Landon Miller and myself," Picking said. "It also really helps that our outsides and opposites really know how to set up a block. It's definitely an important part of the game."
The second set was a big momentum breaker for the Herd. That game was easily the most competitive with five lead changes and 10 ties. The teams were knotted at 18-18 before Chambersburg finally began to pull away.
"That was crucial," Trojan coach Marta Cummings said. "Normally when it's point-for-point like that, we get tensed up and can't finish. It was nice to end Game 2 stronger than the other team and be able to come out on the winning side."
Picking said, "Had they won that, our heads probably would've dropped to the floor. It was really good that we pushed through that and fought hard. We really came together in that second set to win, and it was awesome to see."
Defensively, Will Gerhart was the star of the show for Chambersburg. He had 18 digs, while no other Trojan had more than five.
Chambersburg 3, Carlisle 0
Sets — 25-12, 25-20, 25-21
at CASHS Field House
Carlisle Statistics
Kills — Danyon Fischbach 5, Ethan Houstan 3; Blocks — Paul Candland 4, Houstan 2; Assists — Cameron Loose 13; Digs — Charlie Shultes 3; Aces — Houstan 2.
Chambersburg Statistics
Kills — Landon Miller 9, Billy Russo 7, Evan Misal 6; Blocks — Miller 3, Brady Picking 2; Assists — Jayson Sollenberger 24, Ian Patterson 6; Digs — Will Gerhart 18; Service points — Patterson 14, Kenny Coppens 9, Gerhart 8, Miller 7, Russo 7; Aces — Sollenberger 2.
JV score — Chambersburg 2, Carlisle 1 (20-25, 25-10, 15-12).