Sophomore hitter Kaylee Gryboski had 18 kills Tuesday when Holy Redeemer went on the road and swept District 4 champion Wyalusing Valley in three sets in a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A first-round state girls volleyball tournament match.
Holy Redeemer advanced to the state quarterfinals on the day when District 2’s other champions – Delaware Valley, Berwick and Blue Ridge – each had their seasons come to an end.
Gryboski also had 11 service points, 2 aces and 2 blocks as the Lady Royals won by set scores of 25-14, 25-14, 26-24.
Eva Szura, Eve Kilburn, Izzy Romano and Olivia Bilbow also made significant contributions to the win.
Szura had seven kills, seven digs and two blocks. Kilburn had 28 assists, 6 points and 3 digs. Romano had nine points, four aces and four digs. Bilbow had 11 points, 3 aces and 3 kills.
Holy Redeemer won its fourth straight to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal against District 11 champion Allentown Central Catholic at Hazleton Area at noon.
Allentown Central Catholic is ranked seventh in the state in Class 2A by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. Holy Redeemer is not part of the top 10.
Allentown Central Catholic swept District 12 champion Conwell Egan, 25-16, 25-16, 25-15, in Tuesday’s first round.
Delaware Valley, Berwick and Blue Ridge were all swept in their matches although each of them had a set where they scored at least 22 points.
Cumberland Valley knocked out previously unbeaten Wyoming Valley Conference champion Delaware Valley on its home court in Class 4A; Bethlehem Catholic defeated visiting Berwick in Class 3A; and visiting Canton topped Lackawanna League Division 2 champion Blue Ridge in Class A.
Delaware Valley suffered its first loss, 25-23, 25-20, 25-14, to Cumberland Valley, the seventh-ranked Class 4A team in the state by coaches.
Emily Henn had 10 digs, 3 kills and a block in the loss.
Leah Weinreb had nine digs, nine service points and four aces.
Samantha Moore had 12 service points; Olivia Conza had 10 assists and 4 digs; Katherine Quinn had six kills; Ashlyn Oliver had four kills and four digs; Jazmyne Bates had three kills and a block.
Bethlehem Catholic, the fourth-ranked Class 2A team, eliminated Berwick, 25-22, 25-10, 25-14.
Cecelia Isenberg had 13 kills and 12 digs for the Lady Bulldogs, whose only previous loss was against Delaware Valley.
Morgan Nevel provided 17 assists, 15 digs, 4 kills and a block. Camille Pinterich added 12 digs and Erin Hess had 8.
Berwick finished 15-2.
Canton defeated Blue Ridge, 25-11, 25-22, 25-17.
Kate Spencer led Blue Ridge in digs (13) and kills (7).
Libby Zick had 14 assists and 9 digs.
Emma Burton had six digs, Kaelynn Brant had five kills and Leigha McCain had three aces.
