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Flyers clinch tie for volleyball league title
 | | GO!...Central's Alex Visbisky hustlesWednesday. (Times photo) |
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By beating cross-town rival Cheektowaga Central last Thursday, the Maryvale boys volleyball team did something it hadn't done in 15 years- clinch at least a tie for the league title.
The Flyers overcame the Warriors in straight sets, 25-21 and 25-17, to end their regular season with an 11- 1 record in Erie County Interscholastic Conference-III, a mark that tied Eden for first place.
Maryvale (22-2 overall) is also ranked No. 2 in the Western New York Coaches Poll. Central (6-6 in ECIC-III) hung with the Flyers both games but couldn't get over the hump.
In Game 1, Central came back from an early 8-1 deficit to lead by as much as 18-15, but Maryvale ended the set with a 7-2 run. In Game 2, the Warriors took an early 6-2 lead before Maryvale went on a 7-0 run to steal the momentum.
Flyers first-year head coach Jon Bednasz said his team's ball control was the key to beating Central.
"We weren't playing our game for a little while, and against a team like Cheektowaga, anything can happen," said Bednasz, "but we stuck to our game plan and bounced back."
The co-league title is the Flyers' first since 1992. A coin flip will determine Maryvale and Eden's fate as either No. 2 or 3 seeds in sectionals.
Against Central, junior Aaron Woomer led the way with 18 assists and two blocks, while senior Tom Brado contributed six aces, four kills and two blocks. Seniors Shaun Crisman (16 digs) and Jordan LeViness (14 assists, six kills) also played well for the Flyers.
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