By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
COVINGTON TWP. – Blue Ridge established control early and never let it go.
The Raiders repeated as District 2 Class 2A boys volleyball champions Thursday night with their first playoff win ever over the team that had won the previous 10 district championships.
“The big schools overlook little Blue Ridge,” libero Aidan Glasgow said after the 25-14, 25-15, 25-17 championship match sweep at North Pocono High School. “It’s awesome to come out here and beat them in three, beat them in four, whatever it takes.”
The undefeated Lackawanna League champions advance to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament for the third straight year, but the first as a tournament champion. Blue Ridge won its District 2 title a year ago by beating Berwick in the third-place match of the District 1-2 Subregional.
“Boys volleyball is very difficult because it’s just two classifications and we’re on the lower end (in enrollment) of that second classification,” Blue Ridge coach Lori Zick said. “But, with that said, I believe in these guys, I believe in their drive, I believe in their desire to prove that even though we’re a small army, we’re a great one.
“I know my boys are going to work for it and that’s all I can ask for.”
The Raiders will host Academy of Palumbo Tuesday at 5 in a state tournament rematch of Blue Ridge’s first-round win last season.
Blue Ridge led the entire way Thursday with the exception of 1-1 ties in each set and a 2-2 tie in the first.
“That’s the way we needed to start it,” Zick said.
Connor Cranage had a team-high 10 kills while Nick Laude had 8 kills, 5 blocks, 9 service points and 3 aces.
“Connor and I have pretty powerful hits, but we also have pretty good accuracy,” Laude said. “And, we have Morgan (Thomas) out there on the strong side, who is always prepared for a hit and ready to go.
“We have Owen (Martin) as well on the outside. He may not be our tallest player, but he can definitely work out there on the court. Then, we have Nate (Garrehy) on the weak side and he’s our hidden weapon. Whenever we set him the ball, he gets it done.”
Carson Gallagher set them up with 24 assists to go along with seven points and three kills.
Thomas had six kills while Glasgow had 14 digs.
Blue Ridge outscored Holy Redeemer, 15-6 to end the first set and 13-5 to begin the second.
To that point, Holy Redeemer had managed just one point off its first 19 serves, seven of which were not even in play.
“Normally, our serves are really strong,” Holy Redeemer coach John Kablick said. “We’re not just getting the ball in.”
The serving got better, but the Royals were barely able to slow the Raiders.
“Every now and then, you pull a clunker,” Kablick said. “Every team does.
“And, (Blue Ridge) played well.”
