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Delone volleyball cruises in state tourney opener


Delone Catholic made certain it was over in quick order.

The Squirettes needed about 45 minutes to dispatch Wyncotte's Bishop McDevitt in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A volleyball tournament Tuesday at Central York High School. Delone Catholic defeated Bishop McDevitt, 25-6, 25-7, 25-8, to advance the next round. Delone Catholic will play the Bishop McCort/North Star winner Saturday at a time and site to be determined.   

"For your older kids, every win at this time of year is important," Delone Catholic coach Jason Leppo said. "So it's just step one."

Including the national anthem and starting lineups, it took less than 47 minutes for the match to be played. Five Delone players recorded three or more kills, with no Delone player registering more than four kills. Freshman Maddie Clabaugh hit a match-best five aces on a night when the Squirettes piled up 21 of them. Kristin Bollinger added a team-best 12 digs. 

During the first two games. Bishop McDevitt held one lead, taking a 1-0 lead to start Game 2. Otherwise, it was all Delone Catholic. After a back-and-forth start to Game 3, Delone Catholic coasted to the victory with its younger players on the floor. 

A typical power at the district and state level, everything has changed this year for Delone Catholic, in large part to the increased number of classifications. 

"It's so different," Leppo said. 

Used to facing West York and York Suburban in the postseason, or running into the same western-Pennsylvania powerhouses in the state tournament, Delone Catholic faces a level of uncertainty in this year's postseason, Leppo said. Still, he said his team is primed for a run.

"With the way that we played on Saturday, and the way we looked in practice, this team is finally beginning to figure it out and to believe in themselves," Leppo said.