SPORTS
8 - MERCHANDISER - Hempfield Edition - June 2, 2021
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Knights Upend Rams in Volleyball District Semis
was going to win until late in the fourth game. “They did stuff we hadn’t seen all year,” Vogel added. “They jumpserved us. We just couldn’t handle their serves even though we pride ourselves on our passing.” What helped Hempfield, however, was the inconsistency in Palmyra’s strengths. “They couldn’t string a bunch of serves together,” Vogel said. “Michael Keene and Chris Rivera came through with some huge points,” added the coach. “Rivera had a thunderous kill at the most opportune time. Also, Givens had some key blocks.” Givens led the team in kills (18) and blocks (4). Orth had two aces and 22 digs. Hempfield reached the quarterfinals, beating Conestoga Valley 3-0 on Thursday, May 20. The Knights wore down the opponent 25-18, 25-14 and 25-9. Givens led with 18 kills. Orth came through with 24 digs. “Winning this advanced us to the state tournament,” Vogel pointed out. “Anyone who plays a sport, your dream is to play in a state championship. These kids are starting to realize that. I’m very proud of this group - we had only one returning starter and we are advancing to the state tournament.” BOYS’ LACROSSE Hempfield reached the District Three Class 3A boys’ lacrosse championship game by upending Central York in the semifinals 13-11 on Monday evening. However, two days after that, Hempfield had to deal with the suspending of the championship game due to rain. The match was in a rain delay. With Wilson leading, 7-3, at halftime the district officials decided to suspend the game with play resuming Thursday, May 27. As for the Central York match, the Panthers were one of only two teams (Manheim Township the other) to have posted a victory over Hempfield during the regular season - an 11-6 win on May 8. The Knights had entered district play as the fourth seed while the Panthers were the top seed, earning a first-round bye thanks to that position. Hempfield’s sensational offense had outscored opponents 238-114 while the Knights went 16-2 through and including the district semifinal match. The Knights took an 8-6 lead into the second half and increased their advantage to 11-8 by the end of the third quarter. Staff photo Max Grube led the scoring Stephen Pitts battles a Panther double-team during Hempfield’s 13-11 win in a District Three with six goals and two assists. opener at Central York last Monday. Zack Antesberger notched a hat
Hempfield side come back to win two in a row, forcing a tiebreaker fifth set. Hempfield boys’ volleyball “In the first game, we just coach Mike Vogel summed up made some errors,” said Vogel. Wednesday nights’ victory at “The second game was almost a Central Dauphin in four simple repeat of the first one. words, “We never gave up.” “We reduced the errors in the The Black Knights (19-1) won third game and winning that their third District Three Class was a confidence booster,” continued the coach. “ We had momentum and won the fourth won.” The Rams came to erase a four-point Hempfield lead on two occasions in that tiebreaker set. “We were up 5-1 and 8-4 and they tied it 14-14,” Vogel explained. “Our blocking shut them down in the most opportune times. It’s a tribute to our kids. They never gave up.” Fighting an uphill battle with the aforementioned errors, the Knights fell 25-22 and 25-21 before claiming each of the next two sets by the same score - 2520. They held off the Rams 1715 in the fifth set. Ryan Givens delivered with 22 kills on the night for Hempfield. Mason Orth led the team with four aces and 16 digs while Grant Lorelli topped the team in blocks with five. Hempfield, which entered the district playoffs as the fifthseeded team, had to travel to Palmyra for the quarterfinals last Monday. They won the opening set 26-24 as the Cougars continued to claw their way back. The second set went to Palmyra 25-18. The Knights held on for a 25-23 win and finished off the Cougars 25-19 in the fourth set. Staff photo “Palmyra is a very good team,” Hempfield’s Ryan Givens drives a shot past Conestoga Valley’s Camden Clapper (5) and Dominic Brabant during the Black Vogel said. “It was a hard-fought Knights’ 3-0, District Three opening-round win at home on May victory. All of the games were tight and you didn’t know who 20. BY ARA GRIGORIAN
3A playoff game in a week’s time by defeating the Rams 3-2. The victory in the semifinals came against the district’s top-seeded team, earning the Black Knights a trip to the championship game. The Rams (17-2) won the first two sets and saw a determined
Matty Weist was another key trick while Jason Hilton tallied two goals. A.J. McAlpine scored to the Knights’ victory, grabbing one goal and assisted on another 12 saves in front of the Hempin this close contest. Toby Marco field net. also netted a goal. See Sports pg 9
Staff photo
Gerry Gallagher slaps a shot over Conestoga Valley’s Adam Yoder in Hempfield’s 3-0, district-playoff win in Landisville on May 20.
Staff photo
Max Grube advances the ball for the Black Knights during their 13-11, District 3 semifinal victory at Central York last Monday.
