By: Joshua Safran
PHILADELPHIA – Stepping into the gym at Archbishop Ryan a volleyball player will immediately notice two things…
First is a libero’s nightmare: a low ceiling, which only got in the way of give or take five points.
The next is how loud and echoing the gym can be, a recipe for momentum swings and runs, which this championship match was full of.
This past Thursday, the La Salle Explorers (8-0 PCL ) found themselves in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship once again, this time matched up with rival Saint Joseph’s Prep (4-4 PCL). After beating the Prep twice in straight sets earlier this season, La Salle sealed the deal winning in straight sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-10) to secure their fifth consecutive PCL title.
2021 PCL Championship Highlights - La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep - by Joshua Safran
While the Explorers continued their dominance over the PCL in the championship, this match was much closer than the score may indicate. Earlier in the season when the two teams met, La Salle swept very convincingly, with the sets being decided by a difference of 52 total points in favor of the Explorers.
It was clear from the opening point that this match wouldn’t be a cakewalk for the perennial champions. St Joe’s Prep middle Sean Maguire was a force at the net, getting his hands on several would-be kills and led the Prep to a slim early lead.
If it weren’t for a few unforced errors early on in the first set, the Hawks had a real opportunity to steal the first set. However as the game progressed, the Explorers began hitting their stride and working the ball around Maguire.
“They (St Joe’s Prep) came out really strong... I think our guys were a little hesitant about trying to put the ball away, so once we loosened up a little bit, we opened up our attack and our offense,” La Salle’s coach Jason Eisele said.
While it was a great collective effort from the hitters of La Salle, it was the Explorers’ outside hitter Ben Herron who stopped multiple runs with powerful kills and brick wall blocks. Herron led the match with 14 kills and collected four blocks to go with it.
“Volleyball is a big swing sport, people go on runs a lot so it’s huge have the momentum. You get one, two, keep stacking on points. They went on some runs, we went on some runs, so when you put a big ball down and get the crowd going, it gets you into the game a little more,” Herron said.
Ultimately in this match that was the deciding factor. Both teams played tremendous defense throughout, but whenever St Joe’s Prep seemed to be making a comeback, there was Herron slamming the door.
The Hawk’s final opportunity came in set two when they were down 22-20. Outside hitter Bobby Kuzy put a good swing on the ball and thought he had a tide turning kill until the referee ruled the ball hit the antenna, making it a 23-20 game in favor of the Explorers. The Prep became a bit fixated on the decision and couldn’t regain control, dropping the next two points and ultimately the set.
Following the first two sets, La Salle tasted yet another PCL championship and swung with force, this time St. Joe’s Prep didn’t have any answers, as the Explorers finished the match in dominant fashion 25-10.
Senior Ben Herron talks about adjustments made to walk away with the championship:
Senior Josh Hohenleitner said building intensity in the 2nd set was a big momentum shift:
La Salle Coach Jason Eisele said when his players trust in the culture, good things will come:
Though the championship wasn’t any less sweet for La Salle, they’re aiming their sights higher than the Philadelphia Catholic League.
“We didn’t look at it like a championship, we looked at it like the game we needed to win to get into states. That’s our goal this year, to win a game in states,” La Salle’s outside hitter Josh Hohenleitner said.
La Salle has gone to the state playoffs the previous two years and lost in five sets both times. The Explorers will compete in the District 12 championship on May 27. With a victory, La Salle will have the opportunity to compete for their first PIAA state playoff win in the program’s eight years on Tuesday, June 1 against an opponent to be determined.