Skip to main content

BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Chambersburg lacks energy in loss to powerful State College


CHAMBERSBURG >> Asked to sum up Thursday night's loss to State College, Chambersburg boys volleyball coach Marta Cummings' response was simple.

She said, "If I could somehow get Game 3 to occur every time we stepped on the court. I think that's the answer."

And she wouldn't be wrong. The Trojans looked lifeless for a majority of the first two sets before putting up a spirited fight in the third. Chambersburg pushed the Little Lions to the brink of defeat before falling 28-26, finishing the 3-0 sweep by State College.

"We pulled our heads out of our butts the final set and got motivated," said Jayson Sollenberger, who played as the lone setter for Chambersburg (2-6, 2-4 MPC) in the final game. "We didn't want to lose, and we just had more energy."

The Little Lions (6-2, 4-2 MPC) led from start to finish in the first two sets, but Cummings switched the lineup in the third and the Trojans showed fire. Chambersburg took a 16-15 lead midway through the set and had a 25-24 lead late, but kills by John Weakland and Tyler Snyder helped seal the deal for the Little Lions. Weakland finished with 19 kills to lead the team, and Brandon Kuruzovich had 37 assists. Noah Christie had 23 digs.

"I thought we were consistent on the outside, and Noah did a great job for us tonight," State College coach Kim-Li M. Kimel said. "He was very vocal tonight, and that helped set up our outside guys."

Cummings said, "We threw some different guys in there for the third set, and they wanted it. They looked like they wanted to keep playing. The defense picked up, and we got more touches. I commend all of the guys on the floor for the third game."

Billy Russo led the Trojans with seven kills, and Landon Miller and Riley Washington both had five. Sollenberger finished with 18 assists, and Will Gerhart and Evan Hoke both had 14 digs.

Sollenberger said, "We just have to keep pushing to get better and better. I feel like we're taking steps, but we just have to put it together."

"I feel at practice, everyone knows they're fighting for a chance to play," Cummings said. "Hopefully a night like tonight sparks the entire team and we can get on the same page."

State College 3

Chambersburg 0

Sets — 25-20, 25-16, 28-26

at CASHS Field House

State College Statistics

Kills — John Weakland 19, Tyler Snyder 12; Blocks — Peyton Stark 4, Weakland 3; Assists — Brandon Kuruzovich 37; Digs — Noah Christie 23, Weakland 9; Aces — Aaron Cymber 2, Christie 1.

Chambersburg Statistics

Kills — Billy Russo 7, Landon Miller 5, Riley Washington 5; Blocks — Jayson Sollenberger 2; Assists — Sollenberger 18, Ian Patterson 9; Digs — Will Gerhart 14, Evan Hoke 14, Aaron Hoke 11; Service points — Sollenberger 12, Miller 10; Aces — Gerhart.

JV score — Chambersburg 2, State College 0 (25-19, 26-24).