Blue Ridge went to Philadelphia and came away with a victory before being eliminated in the quarterfinal round of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association boys volleyball tournament.
Abington Heights, the only other District 2 team to reach state play, stayed closer to home and lost in the first round in a closer match.
A recap of how the two Lackawanna League rivals and District 2 champions did in state play:
MAY 31 FIRST ROUND
Blue Ridge 3, Academy at Palumbo 0
Connor Cranage had 12 kills while Gerald Welsted had 7 kills and 7 blocks as Blue Ridge defeated the District 12 champion Academy at Palumbo, 25-13, 25-17, 25-23, in a Class 2A match at Lincoln High School in Philadelphia.
Carson Gallagher’s 21 assists and Aiden Glasgow’s 10 digs were both team-high totals.
Dylan Bradley had five kills and three aces. Nick Laude also served up three aces.
Parkland 3, Abington Heights 0
District 11 runner-up Parkland traveled to the University of Scranton to hand the unbeaten Lackawanna League and District 2 champion Comets their first loss in three close sets in a Class 3A opener.
Parkland won, 25-21, 29-27, 25-20.
Nate Steenback played well in defeat with 17 kills and 4 blocks.
Abington Heights had won 45 of 46 sets on the season going into the match.
Nico Bossi had seven kills and a team-high five blocks in the loss.
James Brust had 24 assists and 6 digs.
Colin Jenkins had nine digs while James Dadey added eight.
Jamison Bessoir chipped in with four kills and four blocks.
JUNE 2 QUARTERFINALS
Lower Dauphin 3, Blue Ridge 0
Defending state champion Lower Dauphin swept the Raiders, 25-14, 25-20, 25-12, in an afternoon quarterfinal match at Wilkes University.
Welsted had seven kills and Laude five in the loss.
Gallagher had 17 assists.
Cranage had nine digs. Morgan Thomas added seven kills and a team-high three blocks.
MORE BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Final Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings: https://nepasportsnation.com/blue-ridge-moves-up-to-second/.
