PIAA first Round!

From the Intell

DALLAS — Qualifying for the PIAA Class AA playoffs is a cornerstone on which the first-year boys volleyball program Archbishop Wood can build.
But being a first-year program put the Vikings, the second-place team from District 12, at a disadvantage Wednesday night in their first-round match against more-experienced North Pocono, the District Two second-place team.

 

The Vikings were without senior Aidan Clinton, a first-team All-Philadelphia Catholic League selection at outside hitter, who was back in Warminster as one of many recipients at Wood’s annual Senior Awards night.
Still with their other two first-team All-PCL seniors Joe LoStracco and Matt Miller, the Vikings did everything they could to stay competitive, but their season ended with a 3-0 loss to the Trojans at Dallas High School.
As much as the Vikings (12-8) had figured out what style of play would work in the PCL’s first year of existence for boys volleyball, North Pocono (15-3) kept them off-balance throughout the match.
By extending rallies, the Trojans forced Wood to rely on consistent timing and pinpoint execution, not usually the hallmarks of a first-year program, in which players haven’t completely meshed with each other’s tendencies.
“This is the first state match for all our guys, and this is the first time they’ve seen anyone outside District 12, the PCL and the Suburban One League,” Wood coach Brendan Ledwith said. “(North Pocono) has good hitters, but there is a refinement level to the setting, the set selection and things like that, which we, as a first-year program, just don’t have yet.”
Even if Clinton had been there, the Vikings believe that the outcome still would have been the same.
“We missed Aidan (Clinton); it would have helped having him hitting outside, but we had some players step up,” Miller said. “We had (juniors) Jack Waltrich and Sam Thiers step up, and I think they filled the void pretty well.”
Of the 17 players on the roster, only five seniors are graduating. Everyone else should return.
“This state experience is going to help them down the road,” LoStracco said. “If they ever are in another high-pressure situation, they’ll know what to expect, and they won’t shy away from it.”
Despite knowing they could play only one season, LoStracco and Miller are glad they could add athleticism and leadership to this start-up program.
While having played mostly soccer for Wood, Miller had watched his older sister, Meghan, playing volleyball at St. Basil Academy in Jenkintown before she had graduated last year. Miller’s father, Robert, was a player, coach and referee in volleyball through the years.
LoStracco, who expects to play basketball at Ursinus College as a power forward, has gained additional skills from volleyball that should help him at the next level.
“Playing different sports can help prevent sports injuries by using different muscles,” LoStracco said. “Playing volleyball has helped me with reaction time, for rebounding and blocking shots in basketball.”