JEFF REINHART | Sports Writer
The first full week of L-L League boys volleyball section play is in the books, and Thursday’s slate had plenty of interesting outcomes, including a pair of thrilling Section 2 five-setters. Here’s the roundup, plus some notables …
SECTION 1
Hempfield 3, Manheim Township 0 — A 2-0 week and a perfect start for the host Black Knights, who topped the Blue Streaks 25-8, 25-15 and 25-20 to sit atop the section race at the end of the first week. Mitchell Orth dished off 15 assists, Kena Bekere had six kills and Brady Rigard sparked the defense with 11 digs for Hempfield; Daniel McGowan (13 assists), Owen Moore (5 kills) and Asher Kennel (9 digs) paced Township.
Conestoga Valley 3, McCaskey 0 — Two nights after taking Warwick to five sets before a gut-punch 3-2 setback, the Buckskins took care of business with a 25-20, 25-16, 25-17 victory over the host Red Tornado. Rowan Aisenbrey had 10 digs, Jemiah Burkholder had four kills and an ace, and Jack Newkirk and Mason Tardibuono had five blocks apiece for CV; Jean Vazquez-Severino had nine blocks up front for McCaskey.
Penn Manor had the bye in Section 1 on Thursday.
L-L LEAGUE BOYS VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS, SCHEDULES, BOX SCORES
SECTION 2
Elizabethtown 3, Lancaster Mennonite 2 — Two nights after registering a solid victory at Garden Spot, the host Blazers couldn’t quite cap their comeback against the Bears, who won the first two sets, watched Mennonite rally, and then won it in five. Game scores were a wildly entertaining 25-18, 26-24, 13-25, 23-25 and 15-13. Plenty of fun stats to go around, including 25 assists for Matthew Kerin, 11 kills for Cooper Torborg and 28 digs for Prabin Bhattarai for E-town, and 15 assists apiece for Jesse Longenecker and Lukas Muenstermann, nine kills, three assists and two blocks for Adam Nolt and two blocks and 15 digs for Gianlucka Barboza for Mennonite.
Ephrata 3, Garden Spot 2 — Two matches and two wins for the Mountaineers. Two matches and two setbacks for the host Spartans, who trucked it to a 2-0 lead, but couldn’t slam the door. Game scores were 25-27, 26-28, 25-14, 25-15 and 15-10, as Ephrata roared from behind and won it. Owen Weaver (21 kills, 22 digs, 3 aces) and Brayden Fries (34 assists, 3 aces) sparked Ephrata; Ezra Hubik had 11 kills, Dylan Zeiset had five blocks and Dylan Fowe had five digs for Garden Spot, which suddenly has some ground to make up. The Mounts, meanwhile, find themselves atop the heap.
Manheim Central 3, Cocalico 0 — The reigning section and league champs are off to a 2-0 getaway, after clipping the Eagles 25-15, 25-19, 25-18. The host Barons closed out the first week tied atop the race with upstart Ephrata, which is playing well in the early going. Against Cocalico, Reagan Miller smashed 10 kills and had two aces, Colin Rohrer had 11 digs, Jacob Moyer had four blocks and Dylan Musser set up 30 assists for Central, which started the week at No. 2 in the PVCA-2A state rankings. Meanwhile, Jacob Wambolt (30 assists), Colson Hildebrand (6 kills, 2 aces) and Mason Lesher (11 digs) sparked the Eagles.
Lebanon had the bye in Section 2 on Thursday.
In a Section 1 showdown, Cedar Crest blanked Warwick to get everyone’s attention in the section hunt — and around the league. Here’s the story, plus a photo gallery from Lititz …
TUESDAY, APRIL 2 MATCHES
SECTION 1
Penn Manor at Cedar Crest, 7 p.m.
Hempfield at Conestoga Valley, 7 p.m.
McCaskey at Warwick, 7 p.m.
SECTION 2
Lancaster Mennonite at Manheim Central, 7 p.m.
Lebanon at Cocalico, 7 p.m.
Ephrata at Elizabethtown, 7 p.m.
TWITTER-X: @JeffReinhart77
