Lessons learned
JACKSON TWP — Austin Herrmann and the Seneca Valley boys volleyball team couldn't string together the right plays to trip up Fox Chapel.
The Foxes, who are ranked No. 1 in the state, used an aggressive serve to knock the Raiders out of rhythm in a 25-21, 25-22, 25-13 Section 2-AAA win Thursday night at William Paul Gymnasium.
Herrmann, who tied John Price with a team-high nine kills, feels Seneca Valley has a better understanding of what it needs to do to win.
The Raiders (4-1, 4-1) need to be more efficient with their serve-receive.
“We have to make sure we get the passes there, because if we can't get the passes there, we can't run the middle,” Herrmann said. “I think that's important.”
Fox Chapel (5-0, 5-0) had to battle to win the first set.
Both teams went back and forth before a kill from Herrmann cut the Foxes' lead to 22-21.
Seneca Valley gave away the last three points on an illegal hit and two net violations.
Raiders coach Dan Follett felt his team wasn't far off from winning one of the first two sets.
“We were very close besides one rotation where they got a couple points on us and we were playing catch up,” Follett said. “If we minimize their runs and pass the ball better to keep us in our offense, the result of that match would be much different.”
In the second set, Fox Chapel's Ben DePellegrini unleashed a string of jump serves that gave the Foxes the momentum.
DePellegrini, who finished with three aces, recorded four straight service points, stretching the lead to 15-8.
Seneca Valley got within two points twice — 16-14 and 24-22 after attack errors by Fox Chapel — but never wrestled the lead back.
“Ben served well at the line, but I think all of our guys did a good job,” Foxes coach Phil O'Keeffe said. “We didn't really serve them easy. They were tough, close serves and we didn't miss a lot.”
Fox Chapel's hitting didn't miss much either. Andrew Tublin (nine kills), Jack Reese (eight), Jaysen Zaleski (seven) and DePellegrini (five) gave the Foxes balance.
Anthony Sprentz handed out 32 assists for the Raiders.
Taylor Matthews and Tyler Herrmann both had four kills for SV.
In the third set, Fox Chapel opened on a 7-3 run. The Raiders switched things up with their serving strategy, but couldn't crack the Foxes.
“We had a couple guys miss early that seemed to get us out of rhythm of our overall play,” Follett said. “That put us back on our heels. We lost that aggressive nature and tendency.”
Austin Herrmann doesn't think getting that intensity back will be a problem.
“This is the best team we've seen at this high level and we need to take this game and push forward with it,” Herrmann said. “We need to work on it in practice and next time we play them we'll be coming out running for it.”
