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Central sweeps North Penn to start PIAA Tournament with a bang


HERSHEY >> During game two of Wednesday's opening round match of the PIAA Class AAA boys' volleyball tournament, North Penn found itself within three points of defending state champion Central York.

Then, the Knights found out rather quickly that Central isn't ready to give up the crown just yet.

Backed by Landon Shorts 20 assists, and Jason Gardner's 11 kills, Central swept North Penn 3-0 to advance to the state quarterfinals.

Central will face Seneca Valley on Saturday at a site and time to be determined. Seneca Valley swept Carrick in other first-round action Wednesday night.

Along with Gardner and Shorts, Jeremiah Dadeboe provided a lift with his serves, running off point after point midway through the first game. Dadeboe and Braden Neal tied for a team-high six digs.

"We were in the gym everyday preparing," Gardner said. "Our coaches do a great job of giving us a game plan, so we've been going over that a lot and we've been focused on coming out and getting a fast start and not having a repeat of what we did in districts where we had to fight our way back every game."

"I'm just really happy to get out of here with a win in three straight, we can go home, rest a little bit because Friday night and Wednesday night, they were taxing," Central head coach Brad Livingston said, rewinding to last week's district tournament.

By the third game, Central could sense they were pulling away and a fast start left no doubt they would move on.

North Penn never threatened in the third game.

Livingston was asked if he could provide a scouting report on Gardner's importance and was a shade hesitant as any coach would be.

"Jason is the proverbial straw that stirs the drink. He's the guy on the court that knows what everybody else does, he knows what they're supposed to do, he knows what we're supposed to do, and he knows the scouting report inside and out."

Central York 3, North Penn 0 25-12, 25-16, 25-14 At Milton Hershey

North Penn Stats — Mark Elias (2 kills, 4 digs, 12 assists), Connor Sloan (6 kills,3 digs, 1 assist), Jake Walters (3 kills, 1 block), Tim Dickinson (1 kill, 2digs), Harsh Boghara (1 kill), Manan Patel (2 digs)

Central York Stats — Landon Shorts (1 kill, 3 blocks, 1 dig, 20 assists), Jeremiah Dadeboe (2 kills, 1 block, 6 digs, 4 assists), Jason Gardner (11 kills, 3blocks, 4 digs), Hayden Wagner (8 kills, 2 blocks, 1 dig, 1 assist), Braden Neal (3 kills, 1 block, 6 digs), Nate Mehl (4 kills, 2 blocks), Cole Johnson (1kill), Trevor Holderegger (2 digs), Zach Beam (1 dig), Tyler Van Wyk (1 dig),Zac Kakos (3 digs)