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Depew and Maryvale come up short in Class B semifinals of boys volleyball
There will not be a pair of local teams playing each other in the Section VI Class B boys volleyball final, thanks to top seeds Eden and Williamsville South flexing their muscles Saturday.
 | | OUT OF REACH...Cheektowaga Central's Tom Sherrer cannot reach a return shot against Depew last Thursday in the Class B boys volleytball quarterfinals. Looking on are Warrior teammates Doug Martin (right) and Adam Solveson. (Times photo) |
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Top seeded Eden (30-0) ended No. 4 seed Maryvale's season in the semifinals at Clarence High School, defeating the Flyers in straight sets, 25-12, 25-13 and 25-19.
In the other "B" semifinal, No. 2 seed Williamsville South squeezed out three close set wins against thirdseeded Depew, 25-15, 25-23 and 30- 28.
The Flyers, which finished 10-8 overall, and Wildcats (12-4 overall) both earned victories in the quarterfinals last Thursday. Maryvale advanced in a thrilling match over No. 5 seed Amherst, winning the fifth and deciding set, 28- 26. With his team trailing 24-22 in Game 5, the Flyers' Anthony Harlach served four points to keep the set alive.
Maryvale also won games 2 and 3, 26-24 and 25-23, respectively. The Tigers won games 1 (25-23) and 4 (25-16).
Jeff Gutmann led the locals with 25 kills, 11 service points and two blocks. Jordan LeViness contributed 47 assists and eight service points, and Tom Brado, nine kills, seven service points and three blocks. Harlach (five kills, nine service points), libero Peter Griffin (eight defensive saves), Matt Bunting (10 kills, seven service points and one block) and Jeremy Mongiovi (eight service points, three saves) also had solid performances.
Maryvale head coach Erik Keller said he was proud of his team's effort in advancing to the semifinals.
"We never lost our sense of togetherness," Keller stated. "I give our guys a lot of credit for battling when it counted most."
Depew beat local rival and No. 6 seed Cheektowaga Central in straight sets, winning two games by the identical score of 25-19 and the other, 25-14.
Powerful Eden faced South (20- 5) Wednesday night in the "B" final,
with results coming too late for press time. Last season, the Raiders eliminated Depew, Maryvale and Central en route to the sectional title, including a straight-sets victory over the Warriors in the championship.
Last Wednesday, on the girls' side, No. 5 seed Central lost to fourthseeded Alden in straight sets on the road (25-15, 25-23 and 25-19), while seventh-seeded Maryvale fell on the road to No. 2 seed Newfane, also in straight sets, 25-11, 25-23 and 25- 15. The locals' losses took place in the Class B quarterfinals. The Lady Warriors finished their season 12-5 overall, and the Lady Flyers, 17-6.
The season's result was still a big improvement for Maryvale, which went winless in Erie County Interschlastic Conference-III last year, when the Lady Flyers also suffered a quick exit from the playoffs courtesy of Central.
Maryvale head coach Jen Wierzbicki listed sophomores Rebecca Denee (middle hitter), Tara Woods (libero) and Bailey Baran (outside hitter), as well as junior middle hitter Amanda Pinak, as team leaders this fall who will likely earn ECIC-III honors.
"We were a year smarter and we were able to increase our strategy level this season," said Wierzbicki, whose squad returns nearly every athlete in 2007. "Our mental composure was much improved."
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