Ambridge boys volleyball halts Deer Lakes’ WPIAL playoff run

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 | 9:42 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

Deer Lakes' WPIAL Class AA boys volleyball championship hopes were dashed Tuesday night.

It was a repeat of last year's semifinal matchup, but Ambridge reversed roles and beat the Lancers, 3-0, at North Allegheny. The Bridgers posted scores of 25-22, 26-24, 25-18.

Deer Lakes (12-3) plays Montour in Thursday's WPIAL consolation match at 7:30 p.m. at Baldwin. A win there sends the Lancers back to the PIAA tournament.

“That's been our goal all year, and it hasn't changed,” Deer Lakes coach Brady Schuller said.

Last season, Deer Lakes beat Ambridge, 3-1, to reach the championship, but the Lancers fell to Beaver County Christian School for the title. Deer Lakes was chasing its first district crown since 2011.

Tuesday night, the first set was close, but the Bridgers (13-4) started to pull away at the end. The Lancers got within a point at 22-21, but Ambridge scored three out of the next four to wrap up the win.

“We came out a little slow on the offensive and defensive sides. That's what let them pull away,” Schuller said. “Game 2, we played with them. It could have been a completely different game.”

Deer Lakes had control for a majority of the second set. The Lancers posted leads of 10-4 and 19-14, but the Bridgers stormed back to trim their deficit to 19-17. Deer Lakes went ahead 20-17, but all-WPIAL senior Dan Hutchinson crumpled to the floor with an ankle injury on that point. He had to be helped off the floor and did not return. Ambridge marched back for the 26-24 win.

“That was definitely a tough thing to overcome. They hung in there and played well, though,” Schuller said. “I think it affected us a little bit, but the guy (Devin Reiher) that went in for him had played a lot all season. He is younger, but we expect to just plug and play.”

Despite being without one of the district's top players, the Lancers had an 11-9 advantage in the third set. Once again, the Bridgers rallied and scored the next six points and closed out the 25-18 victory.

Deer Lakes hopes to regroup and beat Montour in the WPIAL consolation match to earn its third PIAA tournament appearance in a row. Last year, the Lancers fell to Cochranton in the PIAA quarterfinals.

“We have a day of practice before we play another game, so we have to refocus and get ready,” Schuller said.

Joe Sager is a freelance writer.

Tags: Ambridge, Deer Lakes