NEFFSVILLE — Exeter saw a familiar opponent Tuesday at Manheim Township, but the result again went against the Eagles.
Exeter suffered a 3-1 loss to Lower Dauphin in a PIAA Class 2A semifinal, its second of the season and both against the Falcons this month.
The Eagles lost Tuesday by game scores of 25-16, 18-25, 20-25, 22-25.
“Their passing and defense stepped up big time after that first,” Exeter coach Matt Hadley said. “We came out, executed, and took it to them. We threw that first punch and then they came out the second set and punched right back. In my mind, it came down to them defensively and them serving.”
The two teams had faced each other twice this season. The Eagles beat the Falcons at the Hempfield Tournament in March. Lower Dauphin got its payback with a 3-0 victory in the District 3 championship match on June 1.
The Berks champion Eagles (22-2) came out on a mission Tuesday night as they dominated the first set.
The two-time defending state champion Falcons (23-0) did not look prepared in the opening set.
However, that changed quickly as they jumped to a 7-2 lead in the second set, a lead they kept throughout.
The Eagles took a 17-15 lead in the third set before the Falcons went on a 10-3 run to close it out.
With their backs against the wall in the fourth set, the Eagles would fight until the very end.
Lower Dauphin led 24-19, but Exeter rallied to cut it to 24-21 before the last point of the season was scored against the Eagles. The Falcons will face District 10 runner-up Cochranton in Saturday’s final at 11 a.m. at Penn State.
“Just to be proud,” Hadley said on what he told his team in the huddle postgame. “It was a long season, but they battled all year.”
Gaige Gabriel had 26 kills, three aces, seven digs, and four blocks; Chase Nugent had 10 kills, six digs, and one block; Tyler Campbell had 13 digs; Jack Forry had 41 assists, five digs, and one block; and Ashton Wilson had five kills, four digs and one block for the Eagles.
Exeter finishes the season as Berks champions, District 3 runners-up and a finish in the top four in the state playoffs. The Eagles defeated Dock Mennonite, the top-ranked team in the state by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches, 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Lower Dauphin was ranked second and Exeter third.
“It was a successful season from start to finish,” Hadley said. “They have nothing to be ashamed of. It’s one of the most successful seasons in program history.”
The Eagles graduate only one senior and will return their entire starting lineup from this season. They’ll look to make another deep state playoff run in 2024.
“We told them that this should make them hungry,” Hadley said on how his team should view next season. “We said this after the last time we lost to them, ‘You learn from your losses.’ This is one of those games that’ll sting for a little bit because we were so close, but it should make them hungry for next year.”
Source: Berkshire mont
Be First to Comment